Catch the Holiday Spirit, Not the Flu – Get Your Flu Shot
Courtesy Dallas County Health and Human Services
The Holiday Season has arrived and with it busy schedules filled with shopping, festivities, and various celebrations. Don’t get sidelined with a case of the flu, get your influenza vaccinations now.
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is joining the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health departments across the nation in sponsoring National Influenza Vaccination Week to encourage everyone to get vaccinated.
“The flu shot has been proven to be the most effective way to prevent influenza,” said DCHHS Director Zachary Thompson. “We encourage everyone, especially older adults, children, and persons with chronic medical conditions, to give the gift of holiday health to yourselves, your loved ones and the community by coming in and getting a flu shot,” Thompson continued.
According to the CDC, every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. Influenza is not a reportable illness in Texas so the exact number of flu cases in Dallas County is unknown.
“Anyone who wishes to protect themselves and loved ones from getting the flu should get the flu shot every year,” said Dr. John Carlo, DCHHS Medical Director. “Getting a flu shot is particularly important for individuals at increased risk of having complications from the flu such as individuals 50 years and older, persons with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, healthcare workers, and all school-age children. The flu vaccine also would be particularly helpful for those who are traveling during the Holidays and for those who work in confined spaces with others such as the office setting.” Dr. Carlo continued. “Further, vaccinating school-age children and children aged 6-35 months offers the best protection against flu not only for these children but also those who may live in their households and who cannot be vaccinated such as children less than 6 months of age.” Dr. Carlo concluded.
DCHHS has the largest surveillance network in the Region with 328 reporting sites around the county to track influenza levels and identify circulating strains of the virus. These sites include viral labs, schools, sentinel sites and participating hospitals, as well as long-term care facilities and large employers. Monitoring is done once a week and captures data during a particular timeframe. This sampling represents only a percentage of flu cases treated across the county.
DCHHS offers flu shots for adults and children, as well as other routine childhood and adult immunizations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday on the first floor of the DCHHS building, 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children on their first visit, $5 for children who have previously visited the clinic. Shots are free for adults with Medicare and children with Medicaid. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call 214-819-2162 for information on adult vaccinations or 214-819-2163 for information on infant, children and adolescent immunizations.
Also this year, DCHHS is partnering with Novartis Vaccines and RediClinic to offer a flu shot clinic for adults and children ages 9 years and older at Irving Mall every weekend during the Holiday Season. The Irving Mall Influenza Vaccination Clinic is open Fridays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturdays 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. through December 23, 2007. The cost to get a flu shot at the Irving Mall clinic is $30 and only cash and checks are accepted. Although insurance will not be accepted, receipts will be given so that reimbursement requests can be submitted to insurance companies. RediClinic healthcare professionals, who are trained to provide influenza vaccinations, will administer the vaccinations.
