|
Logan
County begins high-risk population flu vaccinations Monday
Send a link to a friend
[OCT.
14, 2004]
Area flu vaccine resources
are being pooled and redirected to those who have been identified as
most at risk for complication due to the flu virus. In an effort to
protect the health of those most at risk, local health care agencies
-- including Family Medical Center, Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital and the Logan County Health Department -- have agreed to
turn all their flu vaccine over to a central, undisclosed location
that will be administered by the local health department. |
|
The Logan County Health Department will
begin giving flu vaccine to high-risk populations on Monday, Oct.
18, from 7:30 a.m. to noon and Tuesday, Oct. 19, from noon to 4:30
at the health department building, 109 Third St. Normal flu clinic
hours from 7:30 to 4:30 will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 20, until
depletion. The mobile health
unit will NOT be providing the flu vaccine. "Only patients screened
as high risk and with a doctor's statement will be given the flu
vaccine during this first phase of distribution," said Mark
Hilliard, administrator of the local health department.
The cost of the flu vaccine is $18,
or free with Medicaid or Medicare coverage. Clients are asked to
bring their Medicaid or Medicare card with them at the time of
vaccination.
Those eligible to receive the flu
vaccine are people who reside or work in Logan County and are:
- Children 6 months to 18 years on
chronic aspirin therapy.
- Children 6 to 23 months who go to
day care or have chronic illness.
- Adults 65 years and older with
underlying chronic medical conditions, who live in a nursing home,
or both.
- Health-care workers involved in
direct patient care who have chronic illness.
- Health-care workers involved in
direct patient care, including in-patient, nursing home, emergency
room, fire, police and EMT staff.
[to top of second column in this
article] |
"We ask the citizens of this county
and the medical providers here to join us in supporting our
recommendations in order to protect the public's health," said Paul
Kasa, M.D. of the Family Medical Center.
Scientific research over the years
has shown that there are many more ways to prevent the spread of
influenza, including common-sense methods such as respiratory
etiquette -- covering your mouth when you cough, using a tissue when
sneezing or coughing -- and proper personal hygiene.
Smokers may find this an excellent
opportunity to quit smoking. Smoking is known to increase the risk
of influenza and many other respiratory diseases.
[Logan
County Health Department news release]
|
