Flu vaccine clincs begin Monday

The Pottawatomie County Health Department will begin its influenza vaccination clinics on Monday.
Clinic days and times are:
• Monday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Shawnee Municipal Auditorium, 401 N. Bell.
• Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Shawnee Towers and Aldridge Apartments; and 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Shawnee High Rise and Legacy Park.
• Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Wanette Senior Center and Maud Senior Center; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Macomb Senior Center and Asher Senior Center.
• Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon at Tecumseh Senior Center and McLoud Senior Center.
• Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pottawatomie County Health Department.
The Pottawatomie County Health Department also will give flu shots during its regular clinic hours beginning Oct. 27. Hours for flu shots will be 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday only.
This year, 404,000 doses of adult and child vaccine were ordered by the Oklahoma State Department of Health to be distributed to county health departments and public health care providers statewide. State health officials vaccine supplies will be sufficient to meet this year’s demand for flu shots from public health clinics. The vaccine also is available through private health care providers.
Oklahoma’s flu season generally occurs October through May. “We hope our Pottawatomie County residents will use every opportunity to get vaccinated now,” said Pottawatomie County Health Department Administrative Director Tina Johnson. “Getting a flu shot each year is the best and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.”
In particular, Johnson said children 6 months through 18 years of age should get a flu vaccination to protect themselves, as well as those vulnerable persons around them who may be at risk for complications from influenza.  The vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women, anyone age 50 or older, persons of any age with chronic medical conditions, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and those who live with or care for persons at high risk of flu complications, especially health care workers.
Although there is no charge for getting a flu shot from the Pottawatomie County Health Department, voluntary donations will be accepted. “The purchase cost for each dose of vaccine is almost $11, in addition to the costs of administering the vaccine,” Johnson said. “During these tight budget times, we’ll appreciate any contributions to help us offset our costs.”
Each year, about 60 million Americans get the flu, resulting in about 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations. The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year’s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus; A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus; and B/Florida/4/2006-like virus. The protection provided by the flu vaccine should last about a year.
In addition to getting a flu vaccination, persons 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions should ask their doctor if they should be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia, which is a common and potentially serious complication of the flu. Unlike the influenza vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine does not need to be given every year. This vaccine is available at physicians’ offices and the Pottawatomie County Health Department. 
For more information, contact the Pottawatomie County Health Department at 273-2157 or go online to http://pottawatomie.health.ok.gov.