The Daily News
Published 09/29/03
From staff reports

The misery of having the flu can be avoided by getting a flu shot, the county health district advises. Almost anyone can receive a flu shot. It is especially recommended for those at highest risk of complications:

• Persons age 50 and older.
• Those in long-term care facilities of any age with chronic medical conditions.
• Anyone with chronic lung and heart problems.
• Anyone with any chronic metabolic disease including diabetes.
• Persons age six months to 18 years receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
• Women who will be more than three months pregnant during the flu season.

“Getting vaccinated, especially for those in the high-risk populations, is the best prevention,” said physician Mark Guidry, executive director of the health district. “Although the flu itself typically lasts only a week or two, it can lead to more serious illness such as pneumonia, especially for the elderly and people with other health problems. Every year an estimated 8,000 Texans are hospitalized and 1,500 die due to influenza or its complications.”

Chuck Chambers, a district epidemiologist, said it was a myth that flu shots could be ineffective.

“People who have received a flu vaccination may get sick from a different virus that causes respiratory illness but is mistaken for flu,” he said. “The flu shot only prevents illness caused by three influenza viruses selected each year for the vaccine.

“The licensed flu vaccine used in the United States is made from inactivated or killed viruses, cannot cause flu and does not cause flu illness,” Chambers said.

The vaccine is not recommended for people who have an allergic reaction to eggs or anyone with a history of Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome.

The district is promoting October as Influenza Prevention Month. The flu prevention campaign begins Oct. 6, with $16 flu vaccines for certain high-risk groups and their close contacts. For persons with Medicare Part B insurance, the shot will be available at no cost to them.

There will be holding a series of Senior Health Corps Fests to promote wellness among Galveston County seniors where they can get the flu shot. Other senior health information also will be available.

The first of those events will run from 10 a.m. to noon on the following days:

• Oct. 7, Walter Hall Park, 807 state Highway 3 North, League City.
• Oct. 13, Bay Vue United Methodist Church, 1441 state Highway 87, Crystal Beach.
• Oct. 15, Carbide Park Wayne Johnson Community Center, 4102 FM 519, La Marque
• Oct. 16, Dickinson Senior Citizens Center, 2714 state Highway 3, Dickinson.

Read the press release