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1,000 Free Flu Shots Given Out Courtesy Of Volunteers Of America

DENVER (CBS4) - Safeway and Volunteers of America teamed up over the weekend to give 1,000 flu shots for free.

As concern grows over the outbreak of Ebola and the rapid spread of enterovirus, health care officials say people should also keep in mind another disease -- one that can also be deadly and one and far more common in the United States.

On Saturday morning nearly two dozen Safeway pharmacists administered flu shots for those uninsured or unable to pay -- folks like Marvin Gnad.

"Being homeless a lot of times you're in big groups, and it's better to go ahead and get the shot so you don't spread it to anybody else," Gnad said. "Plus I don't want to get sick or die more than anyone else does."

As many as 1,000 people got free flu shots. Its effect lasts through the season and officials say now is the best time of year to get the flu shot.

For Gnad, who's existing health issues are complicated by his homelessness, the free flu shot was a no-brainer.

"You have to because your nutrition is already bad the way it is, and when you're out in the elements it's even worse," he said. "So when you get a shot like this to prevent something from happening, you'd be a fool not too."

According to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, last year the flu hospitalized nearly 1,800 people. Gnad says the volunteers can't understand what the free shot meant for him -- quite simply, he's thankful.

FREE FLU SHOTS influenza
(credit: CBS)

"What do you say to someone who saves your life? This is basically what it is doing. It's actually saving my life. You can't ask for a better favor than that," Gnad said.

This is the first year for the partnership between Safeway and Volunteers of America.

Health officials remind everyone that they should get vaccinated against the flu each year.

LINK: Volunteers of America

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