Health Department plans flu shot clinic for at-risk groups
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 9, 2005 2:04 AM
The Health Department will have its first flu clinic next week, but only for specific high-risk groups.
Health officials say they do not anticipate a shortage of the vaccine this year locally or in the state. The Health Department expects to have a flu clinic for all Wayne County residents in late October or November.
On Monday, Oct. 17, the first flu vaccines will be given to people in the high-risk groups who meet these qualifications:
*All healthy children 6 months through 23 months of age.
*All high-risk children between 6 months and 18 years of age.
*High-risk children, including those who have long-term health problems with either heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, metabolic disease such a diabetes, anemia or other blood disorders, neuromuscular disorders that can cause breathing problems, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.
*Household contacts ages 6 months through 18 years of any high-risk child or adult.
*Any pregnant woman who does not have Medicaid or insurance.
Clinic hours are between 8-11:45 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
Beginning this flu season, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that all children from 6 months to 23 months be vaccinated.
During last year's influenza season, the Center received reports of 152 influenza-related deaths among children under 18 years old from 40 states. Most of them were under 5 years old.
Another high-risk group for complications from the flu are pregnant women. The recommendation is that women who will be pregnant during the flu season should receive a flu vaccine.