Community Health - Seasonal Influenza

Each fall the health department works with other agencies in the community to provide influenza vaccinations at no cost to adults and children considered to be at high-risk of developing complications from seasonal influenza.

High risk individuals eligible to be vaccinated at these public clinics include:

• Senior adults age 65 and older
• Adults and children 5 - 18 years old with chronic health conditions
• Children 6 - 59 months old
• Women who will be pregnant during the 2009-2010 influenza season
• Adults and children 5 - 18 years old who are in close contact with people considered to be at high risk

In addition, community members may be able to receive vaccinations in one of the following ways:

• Contact your health care provider to see if you can receive a flu vaccination in the office.
• Check with your employer to see if they will be offering vaccinations at your workplace.
• Contact your local pharmacy, or visit www.flucliniclocator.org to find a pharmacy near you that will offer vaccinations.

Receiving an annual flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from getting the flu. Because flu viruses change from year to year, the flu shot you got last year will probably not protect you this year. Also, immunity from the vaccination weakens over time. Two weeks after you get a flu shot, your body will build up immunity to the flu viruses included in the vaccine. You may still get the flu if a different virus enters your body, such as the H1N1 virus, but you cannot get the flu from the flu shot.

You can also protect yourself from flu by following proven disease prevention methods such as:

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Keeping a distance of at least six feet from people who are sick.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Making healthy lifestyle choices that will boost your immune system.

You can protect our community from the flu by:

• Staying home if you are sick, until you have been without a fever for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or the crook of your arm.
• Limit your interaction with others.
• Wash your hands.
• Don't share personal items.
• Keep children home if they are sick, until they have been without a fever for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.

Every year seasonal influenza sweeps across the nation, making 5-20% of our population ill, sending more than 200,000 to the hospital, and killing approximately 36,000 people.

Learn more about seasonal influenza.