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September 30, 2008

Flu season brings vaccinations

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever ... yep, it’s flu season again.

The Cherokee County Health Department has the tools to fight off infectious influenza germs with this year’s batch of vaccines.

“We got our vaccines the day before Hurricane Ike came, so we had to sit on them for a little while,” Health Department Director Judy Beck said. “But now we’re up and running again and have already started vaccinating people.”

Beck said there’s no hint of a vaccination shortage this year, as in previous years.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site, vaccine manufacturers are projecting between 143 million and 146 million doses of influenza vaccine will be produced for use in the U.S. during this year’s influenza season.

“This is an all-time high supply of vaccine, making it possible for more people than ever to seek protection from the flu,” the site states.

Immunity provided by the vaccine lasts about a year.

Those wanting to reduce their chances of getting the flu can benefit from getting vaccinated. The CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends certain people get vaccinated each year.

“Most of these people are recommended for vaccination because they are at high risk of having serious flu complications or they live with or care for people at high risk for serious complications,” the CDC Web site states.

People recommended for vaccination include:

• children aged 6 months to 19 years of age;

• pregnant women;

• people 50 years of age and older;

• people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;

• people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;

• health care workers;

• household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu; and

• household contacts and out-of-home care-givers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).

CDC officials recommend people who get an annual flu vaccination should do so as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, which most often peaks in February, but influenza viruses can continue to cause illness into the spring.

“Getting vaccinated as soon as vaccine is available may be most important for children being vaccinated against flu for the first time, who need to get two doses of flu vaccine at least four weeks apart,” the CDC’s Web site states.

Beck said the CCHD has already started vaccinating teachers at several county school districts.

“We usually try to get them first,” she said.

Beck said the health department is also expecting to receive flu mist, a children’s vaccination that is administered via nasal spray instead of injection, by mid-October.

“Children can be as young as 2 years old to receive this vaccination,” Beck said.

The Cherokee County Texas Health Department offers flu vaccinations 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, at its clinics located at 593 N. Main St., in Rusk, and 510 E. Commerce St. in Jacksonville, to adults and children over six months old. Vaccinations cost $7 for children over six months to 17 years old, and $20 for adults over the age of 17. Vaccines are given on a first come first served basis. Walk-ins are welcome.

“We don’t have any outside clinics set up right now,” Jacksonville office coordinator Pam Davis said. “But if any business or other entity is interested in offering a clinic, they just need at least 15 people to sign up to participate and we can set one up for them.”

Call Davis at 903-586-6191 or e-mail pdavis@texashan.org to schedule an on-site clinic.

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