The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates
that 25,000 people in the United States die each year from
influenza, and 966,000 medical visits and 67,000 hospitalizations
were prevented last year by the vaccine.
While everyone 6 months of age or older should get a flu vaccine
this season, it is especially important for certain groups at higher
risk of medical complications from the flu get vaccinated for their
own safety, including:
- Children aged 6 months through 4 years of age
- Pregnant women
- Adults 50 years of age or older
- People who are immunosuppressed
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions,
including asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or chronic lung
disease
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People who live with or care for those at high risk of flu
complications should also be vaccinated including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk of
complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of
children younger than 6 months of age (these children are
too young to be vaccinated and are at risk to become
infected)
Influenza can be a serious disease of the lungs, nose,
and throat. The illness is spread from person to person
through contact with infected respiratory secretions
transmitted by coughing and sneezing. Typical flu symptoms
include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore
throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.
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The flu season usually lasts from October through May, so the CDC recommends
that everyone who is at least six months of age be vaccinated by the end of
October.
Flu vaccinations are available at the Logan County Department of Public Health,
located at 109 Third Street, Lincoln. The walk-in clinic hours of operation are
Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For your convenience, the
department now accepts all major insurance cards. If you have questions, please
contact the Logan County Department of Public Health at 217-735-2317. For more
information regarding services offered at the department, you can also log onto
their website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG
[Don Cavi, MS, LEHP
Public Health Administrator
Logan County Department of Public Health]
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