| Whiteside County Health Department to start offering Flu shots |
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| Thursday, 25 September 2008 08:27 |
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(ROCK FALLS, 9/25/08) – Whiteside County Health Department will start offering flu shots beginning Monday, Oct. 6, at the Health Department, 1300 W. Second St., Rock Falls. Influenza vaccine will be given at the Health Department weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcomed. “We have plenty of flu vaccine this year. There is no shortage for people to worry about,” said Sue Drey, RN, immunizations coordinator for Whiteside County Health Department. The flu shot costs $25, payable by cash or check. Medicare Part B and Medicaid will be billed if a Medicare or Medicaid card is shown at the time of visit. This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all children ages 6 months to 18 years should be vaccinated. Other people who should be vaccinated are pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with a chronic medical conditions, of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including: health care workers, 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, as these children are too young to be vaccinated. Children under 9 years old may need to get two doses of flu vaccine at least 4 weeks apart if this is their first time getting a flu shot. The 2008-09 influenza vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The flu vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these viruses, or it can make your illness more mild if you get a related, but different strain of flu virus. Influenza season most often peaks in January or February or later, so for people not able to get their influenza vaccine in the fall, vaccination in December, January and beyond is beneficial in most years. Whiteside County Health Department also will offer Flu Shot Clinics on the following dates and locations: Erie – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 7, St. Ambrose Parish Hall, Fifth and Main Morrison – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 9, Ebenezer Reformed Church, 309 East Park St. Fulton – 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Fulton Fire Station, 1802 16th Ave. Prophetstown – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22, United Methodist Church, Lafayette and Highway 78 Rock Falls – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4, Merrill School, 600 4th Ave. Morrison- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4, Odell Public Library, 307 South Madison St. Pneumococcal vaccines will be available at all flu shot clinics for $35 for anyone ages 2 years old and above. For more information, call Whiteside County Health Department at (815) 626-2230. |