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November
7, 2005
Little Rock --
A special flu vaccination clinic in preparation for this year’s flu season is planned for Tuesday, November 8, according to DHHS Division of Health Pulaski County Health Unit administrator Lynn Lincoln.
“We have devoted all our resources to giving flu shots for the day, hoping that people will take advantage of this quick and easy way to get their flu shots early,” Lincoln said. “We’ll be open extra hours at the State Fairgrounds, and we’ll have extra staff devoted to giving shots at our Central Health unit location on that day, so folks should be able to get in and out easily.”
Hours at the State Fairgrounds Hall of Industry will be 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the hours at the Central Heath unit are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Central Health Unit is located at 3915 West Eighth Street in Little Rock, near the Cedar and Pine exits on I-630.
DHHS announced earlier that ample vaccine supplies will be available for this year’s flu season at all Local Health Units across the state. The flu season usually starts in mid-December and lasts through March, but you can get the flu at any time of the year if you are exposed to the live virus that causes it.
The best time to be vaccinated against influenza is late October and November. Vaccine usually becomes effective approximately two weeks after it is administered. The flu shot will cost $15.00 for anyone not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, or are Vaccines for Children eligible.
Those most at risk for influenza disease complications are: those in nursing homes; individuals over 50 years of age; persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, and kidneys, or who have diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia; women who will be pregnant during flu season; children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy. Children 6 months through 23 months of age should receive the flu vaccine due to the increased probability of severe illness in this age group. Day-care situations make these children especially vulnerable.
Health care workers should also be vaccinated for influenza since they are at risk for passing influenza infection on to high-risk individuals.
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