Health authorities push flu vaccine

Nov. 30--BELMONT -- The National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) will be observed Dec. 2-8, and the Allegany County Department of Health will be holding a walk-in flu vaccine clinic on Dec. 5.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reminding everyone that it is not too late to get your influenza vaccine. Even though flu season has begun, being vaccinated is still effective in preventing illness.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause a mild to severe illness, and can sometimes lead to death. During the 2017-2018 flu season, the CDC estimates the flu caused: 49 million flu illnesses, 960,000 flu hospitalizations and 79,000 deaths.

All people are at risk for serious flu-related complications, but people at high risk include young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, and those 65 years or older. Those who are at high risk can more easily develop serious complications that can lead to pneumonia, worsening of existing health conditions, resulting in hospitalizations and even death.

What are some key benefits to getting a flu vaccine?

--Flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu illness, hospitalization, and even death in children.

--Vaccinating pregnant women helps protect them from flu illness and hospitalization, and also has been shown to help protect the baby from flu infection for several months after birth, before the baby can be vaccinated.

--A 2017 study showed that flu vaccine can be life-saving in children.

--Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness.

A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. This year, the flu vaccine can protect against three or four different flu viruses (depending on which vaccine you get). It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so make plans to get vaccinated as flu season is highest between December and February, but can last as late as May.

The Health Department walk-in flu clinic is Wednesday, December 5th from 8:45 a.m. ti 4 p.m., at 7 Court St., Belmont, in the County Office Building. Please bring all insurance cards as insurance companies will be billed or a sliding fee scale is available. Those who are age 6 months and up are welcome. All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

If you have questions or need more information, please call The Allegany County Department of Health at 585-268-9250. If you are unable to attend this clinic, please call to make an appointment.

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