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Now is the Time for Flu
Shots
La Marque –
With flu season approaching the Galveston County Health District
wants everyone to know that October is Influenza Prevention Month in the
county. They remind residents that the flu is more than sniffles. It’s fever.
It’s chills. It’s aching. It’s coughing. And it can lead to pneumonia.
All
of this misery could be avoided with an annual flu shot. While almost anyone can receive a flu shot the Health District follows
recommendations established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
urging specific high-risk populations to receive flu shots every year. The
District recommends the following should be vaccinated, children 6 months to 5
years old; pregnant women; people 50 or older; anyone with a chronic medical
condition such as asthma or diabetes; and people who live in nursing homes and
other long term care facilities. It is also recommended for health care workers
and people who live with anyone in those risk groups.
“For high-risk populations getting vaccinated is definitely the best
prevention,” says Mark Guidry, M.D., Galveston County Health Authority.
“While the flu itself typically lasts only a week or two, it can lead to more
serious illness such as pneumonia, especially for the elderly and people with
other health problems.”
People often say they do not
need a flu shot, or say they have received one in the past and still contracted
the flu. Dana Beckham the Health District’s Chief Epidemiologist says these are
common myths. “The flu vaccine prevents influenza but not other illnesses and
there are many respiratory illnesses out there.” According to Beckham when the
vaccine is well matched to the flu viruses in circulation it is very effective
in preventing illness. The majority of the flu vaccine in the United States each
year is made from inactivated or killed viruses and cannot cause flu illness.
Influenza
or flu is a viral respiratory illness marked by a sudden onset of fever,
headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat or stuffy nose and muscle
aches. The illness is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks,
sending the highly contagious virus into the air. Dr.
Beckham stresses that some common sense precautions can also prevent the spread
of the flu. “People should avoid close contact and practice respiratory
etiquette such as covering your mouth when you cough and covering your nose when
you sneeze.”
She also stresses the importance of frequent and adequate hand washing to prevent the
spread of the flu. “People should wash their hand often for 15 to 20 seconds
with soap and water,” Beckham says. “If that is not available use a hand
sanitizing gel. We can’t stress enough the importance of hand washing to
prevent the spread of illness.”
To date,
the Health District has ordered 6,600 doses of vaccine and received 650.
Currently, supplier and state officials are not predicting a shortage or delay
in receiving additional vaccine supplies. While waiting to receive the remaining
doses, there is enough to get started by vaccinating those at highest risk.
When the remaining vaccine order is received, the Health District anticipates providing
flu shots to anyone who would like to reduce the chances of getting the flu.
Flu shots for high-risk persons will be given by Galveston County Health District nurses
at the following locations in October from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
October 5,
Carbide
Park (Wayne Johnson Community Center)
4102 FM 519,
La Marque
October 12
Bacliff Senior Citizens Center
4503 11th St
, Bacliff
October 19
Dickinson Senior Citizens Center
2714 Hwy 3,
Dickinson
October 25
Bay Vue Methodist Church
1441 Hwy 87,
Crystal Beach
October 26
Galveston Senior Citizens Center
2201 Ave L,
Galveston
For persons with Medicare Part B insurance, the shots will be available at no cost
to them. For others the flu vaccination will be available at a cost of $20 and
the pneumonia vaccination at a cost of $30.
For more information about additional clinics and vaccine supply contact the District’s
Immunization Nurse Manager, June Gonzalez at (409) 938-2244.
As reported in the Daily News
10/02/06
Editorial printed in the Daily News
11/01/06
For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
409-938-2211 or 409-392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org |
