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Getting a head start on flu bug; get shot times scheduled
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Even though temperatures continue climbing toward triple digits, it's the time of year to think about vaccination in advance of this winter's flu season.
The Cochise County Health Department has announced the dates and times for the first round of flu vaccinations. In Benson, shots will be administered on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the health dept., 126 W. 5th St.
At the clinic, the health department will only be giving out seasonal flu shots. Vaccinations for the swine flu that became a major concern for health officials last season will be available later this fall.
This year, adult flu shots will cost $25 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Children's flu shots are free through the Vaccines For Children Program and are available by appointment during normally scheduled weekly childhood immunization clinics at all health department locations. More information can be found at www.cochise.az.gov/nursing.
The Arizona Department of Health Services says in general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can be vaccinated.
But certain people should be vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high-risk persons.
People at risk for complications from the flu include children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years old, pregnant women, people over 50, anyone with chronic medical conditions and people who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
Anyone who works or lives with high-risk cases should also be vaccinated.
The state health department said those who should not be vaccinated for flu are people with a severe allergy to chicken eggs, those who have had a severe reaction to the influenza vaccine in the past, people who developed guillain-barre syndrome within the last six weeks of getting a flu shot and people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until symptoms lessen.
The flu is highly contagious, and the state health department said vaccines are set up to reduce the number of cases per year.
On average, in Arizona, 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu, more than 4,000 people are hospitalized from complications and about 700 people die each year.
Even though temperatures continue climbing toward triple digits, it's the time of year to think about vaccination in advance of this winter's flu season.
The Cochise County Health Department has announced the dates and times for the first round of flu vaccinations. In Benson, shots will be administered on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the health dept., 126 W. 5th St.
At the clinic, the health department will only be giving out seasonal flu shots. Vaccinations for the swine flu that became a major concern for health officials last season will be available later this fall.
This year, adult flu shots will cost $25 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Children's flu shots are free through the Vaccines For Children Program and are available by appointment during normally scheduled weekly childhood immunization clinics at all health department locations. More information can be found at www.cochise.az.gov/nursing.
The Arizona Department of Health Services says in general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can be vaccinated.
But certain people should be vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high-risk persons.
People at risk for complications from the flu include children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years old, pregnant women, people over 50, anyone with chronic medical conditions and people who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
Anyone who works or lives with high-risk cases should also be vaccinated.
The state health department said those who should not be vaccinated for flu are people with a severe allergy to chicken eggs, those who have had a severe reaction to the influenza vaccine in the past, people who developed guillain-barre syndrome within the last six weeks of getting a flu shot and people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until symptoms lessen.
The flu is highly contagious, and the state health department said vaccines are set up to reduce the number of cases per year.
On average, in Arizona, 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu, more than 4,000 people are hospitalized from complications and about 700 people die each year.
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