Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer rolled up their sleeves to get their seasonal flu shots and encourage Central Florida residents to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of influenza. 

The Mayors were joined by Lars Houmann, CEO of Florida Hospital, Shannon Elswick, President of Orlando Health's Adult Hospital Group along with Dr. Kevin Sherin of the Orange County Health Department for the event at the Orange County Regional History Center.
 

"The importance of this event is to demonstrate we are united in fighting the flu here in Orange County," said Mayor Crotty. "Although the Swine Flu is getting most of the media attention…the Seasonal Flu can make you just as sick."

Every year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications and approximately 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. Getting the seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help prevent being infected with or spreading the seasonal flu.

Donning T-shirts that read "Protect, don't infect," the two Mayors joined to proclaim the month of October as Seasonal Flu Shot Awareness Month.