Tag: seasonal flu vaccine

LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts Offer Injectable Flu Vaccine

September 20, 2024
Media Contact: Dan Hunsucker, population health coordinator, 276-328-8000

 LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts Offer Injectable Flu Vaccine

The LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts now offer injectable seasonal flu vaccine to anyone 6 months of age and older on a first-come first-served basis while supplies last. The Health Department will accept payments from insurance companies with which the Virginia Department of Health has a contractual billing arrangement. Please call your local health department to ask about the availability of seasonal flu vaccine as well as to schedule an appointment.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health recommend vaccination each year for everyone 6 months and older,” said Reisa Sloce, director of the LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts. “CDC recommends antiviral medications for treatment of influenza as an important additional step to annual influenza vaccination. Anti-viral medications can help reduce the severity and the duration of illness. Anti-virals are an important part of treatment in all hospitalized, severely ill or high-risk patients with suspected or confirmed influenza.”

High-risk patients include children younger than 2 years; adults aged 65 years and older; persons with chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, hematological and metabolic disorders, or neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions, people with immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV infection; women who are pregnant or postpartum; people younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy; American Indians/Alaska Natives; people with extreme obesity and residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.

The LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts are also available to provide flu vaccine at the site of any business or organization who wants their employees to receive the annual shot.  This service is available on a first-come first-served basis while supplies last. For more information, please contact your local health department.

To minimize your risk of catching or transmitting the flu, follow these simple steps:

  • Get the shot—protect yourself and your community!
  • Practice good hygiene – wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds
  • Cover your cough, either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand
  • Stay home from work or school if you think you are sick until you have no fever for 24 hours
  • If you are sick with the flu, contact your health care provider early during your illness because early treatment can impact the course of the disease

For more information, call the LENOWISCO Health District at 276-328-8000 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov.

 

 

NEW RIVER HEALTH DISTRICT OFFERS FREE SEASONAL FLU VACCINE AT DRIVE-THRU CLINIC FOR ADULTS

NEW RIVER HEALTH DISTRICT OFFERS FREE SEASONAL FLU VACCINE AT DRIVE-THRU CLINIC FOR ADULTS

(CHRISTIANSBURG, Virginia) – The New River Health District (NRHD) will offer free seasonal flu vaccine at a special drive-thru dispensing clinic on Tuesday, October 4 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the NRV Fairgrounds, 5581 Fair Grounds Cir, Dublin, VA

Vaccine will be available free on a first-come, first-served basis to those 8 years old and above. Be sure to wear clothing that is loose around the arm so that a public health nurse can administer the flu shot in the upper arm, without having to leave the comfort and convenience of your car.

Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is a serious disease caused by the influenza virus that affects the respiratory tract. It is highly contagious and generally spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can be transmitted even before flu-like symptoms appear. A person usually becomes sick one to three days following exposure to the virus. Typical flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.

“Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its potentially severe complications. This unique ‘drive-thru’ approach is proven to be a fast and efficient way to vaccinate a large number of folks in a short time,” said Noelle Bissell, M.D., director, New River Health District. “Herd immunity develops when more people get vaccinated,” Dr. Bissell explained. “There is less virus present to potentially infect those who cannot be immunized such as infants under 6 months old; this helps protect everyone from this potentially deadly disease.”  It is especially important to get a shot this year because Covid is still circulating and getting infected with both flu and Covid can increase the severity of illness. Based on data from the southern hemisphere, we expect this to be a more severe flu season than we have had the past few years.

“The timing and duration of flu seasons vary – they can occur from early fall to late spring. Receiving an annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of becoming sick with the flu and spreading the virus to others. When more people get vaccinated, less flu can spread through the community. It takes up to two weeks to develop the vaccine’s full protection,” said Dr. Bissell.

All persons aged 6 months or older should be vaccinated against influenza each year. Particular effort should be made to vaccinate people at higher risk for influenza complications, including:

  • Pregnant and postpartum women, or those who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
  • Persons over 65 years of age, including residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
  • People who have chronic lung or heart problems, including asthma; and
  • People who have other serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, anemia, cancer, weak immune systems (including those with HIV), or a seizure disorder.

To help prevent the spread of influenza to people in high-risk groups, those who live with people in a high-risk group and healthcare workers should also receive an annual influenza vaccine. Travelers to countries outside of the U.S. may also need to consider influenza vaccination, even at different times of the year.

Each year in the U.S. approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized due to flu illness, and flu-related deaths range from 12,000 to 56,000 each year, averaging 34,000 per year over the last three decades.

To minimize your risk of contracting or transmitting the flu, follow these simple steps:

  • Get vaccinated;
  • Consider wearing a mask if one is high risk or if one is having symptoms.
  • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds;
  • Cover your cough, either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand; and
  • Stay at home when you are sick.

For more information, call the New River Health District at 540-585-3300 or visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/flu/.