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December 1, 2008

CCHD offering vaccines through National Influenza Week

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

When families get together for the holidays, they aren’t only sharing good times and good food — they can be sharing flu germs, too.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated the week after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, as National Influenza Vaccination Week, to help highlight the importance of getting those influenza (flu) vaccinations.

“We’ve had a few positive flu cases this year,” Cherokee County Health Department Director Judy Beck said. “This year hasn’t been as severe as recent years, but it’s still early.”

The Cherokee County Health Department is providing flu vaccinations Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p. m. at its clinics located at 593 N. Main St. in Rusk and 510 E. Commerce St. in Jacksonville. Shots costs $20 and are given on a first come, first served basis.

“We still have plenty of shots and we’ve seen quite a few people come in and get vaccinated already,” Beck said.

According to the CCHD, the flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

Along with getting vaccinated, Beck said people need to remember to wash their hands often, stay home when feeling ill and avoid contact with the ill.

“There have been so many campaigns on preventative steps, I think more people are conscientiously working to keep from getting sick,” Beck said.

The CDC reports every year in the United States, on average:

• 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu;

• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and

• about 36,000 people die from flu.

CCHD officials said while October and November are the best times to get vaccinated, getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial since most influenza activity occurs in January or later in most years. Flu season can last as late as May.

Some people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at a higher risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons.

People who should get vaccinated each year include:

• children aged 6 months until their fifth birthday;

• 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;

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

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

• health care workers.

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