Flu vaccine available beginning Monday

[NOV. 3, 2006]  The Logan County Health Department will begin giving flu vaccinations next week. Flu vaccine will be available at 109 Third St. in Lincoln beginning Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The health department will be closed on Nov. 10 for the Veterans Day holiday. Beginning Nov. 13, flu vaccine will be available each day between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

"Anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated," said Mark Hilliard, administrator of the health department. "However, certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people at high risk for complications from the flu include children from age 6 months until their 5th birthday, pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

In addition, people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu should be vaccinated. Those people include household contacts of people at high risk for complications from the flu (see previous paragraph), household contacts and out-of-home caregivers for children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated), and health care workers.

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through the coughing or sneezing of people who have influenza. That's why it's important to practice proper coughing and sneezing etiquette by covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, or by coughing into your elbow, Hilliard said.

[Logan County Health Department news release]