|
November
7, 2006
Little Rock --The Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services,
Division of Health (DOH), reports that there is an
ample supply of flu vaccine this year. Arkansas is
receiving 238,000 doses of the vaccine for use in local
public health clinics. Vaccine will be delivered to
clinics and available to the public by November 20.
Arkansans are encouraged to call their local health
unit at that time to see about flu shot availability.
The flu season in Arkansas usually runs from mid-December
to March. The flu shot will cost $15.00 for anyone
not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, or the Vaccines
for Children Program.
Free one-day mass vaccination
clinics are being held in 26 sites in Arkansas. The
purpose of the clinics is to immunize as many people
as possible, as well as to test the Division of Health’s
plans for mass dispensing of medicine statewide.
If Arkansas ever were to experience pandemic influenza
or a similar type of emergency, medication would
need to be distributed in a short time frame to large
populations. Mass vaccination clinics are one method
for doing this. Vaccine will be available in all
Arkansas counties after the mass vaccination clinics
are complete. Earlier, it was reported that a clinic
was going to be held in Jacksonville; that clinic
has been cancelled.
Dr. Paul Halverson, DOH director, said, “We
would encourage all Arkansans to get a flu shot this
year. And one of the easiest and least costly ways
to do this is to attend one of our free, one-day county
immunization clinics. Influenza is a serious disease
that can lead to hospitalization and even death. The
single best way to protect yourself and your loved
ones is to get vaccinated—either by the flu shot
or by nasal spray.”
For more information on seasonal influenza, click on http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.
Flu
Clinic Dispensing Sites - PDF
Adobe
Reader Required to View.
|
