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Additional Flu Vaccine Available
Press
Release
January 11,
2005
La Marque -Officials
with the Galveston County Health District announced today
additional flu vaccine is now available for county residents
who were unable to access a flu shot earlier in the season.
“We have recently received additional doses of vaccine
and are asking county residents who did not get a shot previously,
to try again,” Galveston County Health Authority Dr.
Mark Guidry said. “It is very important that high-risk
individuals become protected since influenza has serious consequences
and we are not yet out of the flu season.”
Now added to the expanded list of high-risk
categories recommended for a flu shot are adults age 50-64,
out-of-home caregivers, as well as household contacts of persons
in high-risk groups.
In response to this season’s vaccine
shortage, previously recommended high-risk groups whom are
still encouraged to receive a flu shot include: (1) children
6 months through 23 months of age; (2) adults 65 and older:
(3) anyone with underlying chronic medical conditions; (4)
women who will be pregnant during the flu season; (5) residents
of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; (6)
children 6 months through 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;
(7) medical care workers providing direct patient care: and
(8) caregivers and household contacts of children under 6
months old.
Public health officials are also encouraging
people 65 and older, people with lung, heart, liver or kidney
problems; and people with diabetes, sickle cell, alcoholism,
HIV/AIDS or other chronic medical conditions to get a pneumococcal
vaccination.
The pneumonia vaccine, which can be given year-round,
protects against pneumonia and other illnesses caused by the
bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumonia is often a life-threatening
complication of influenza.
The height of the flu season in Texas may typically
extend to January or February according to Dr. Dana Beckham,
Chief Epidemiologist for the Health District. “Once
a person has received a shot it takes about two weeks to offer
maximum protection. Flu is not a reportable condition in Texas
but we have had four laboratory confirmed cases in Galveston
County. While we hope we won’t have an outbreak it’s
still possible,” says Dr. Beckham.
Flu vaccinations will be available at Galveston
County Health District Immunization clinics at the following
locations and times:
- Texas City Immunization Clinic (Located
in the Texas City Community Family Center)
2000 Texas Avenue, Texas City, (409) 949-3459
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30 a.m. –
11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Galveston Immunization Clinic (Located in
the Island Community Center)
4700 Broadway, Galveston, (409) 763-7227
Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Dickinson Immunization Clinic
905 Pine Drive, Dickinson, (281) 337-4043
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30
a.m.; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
For persons with Medicare Part B insurance,
the shots will be available at no cost to them. For others
the flu vaccination will be available at a cost of $16 and
the pneumonia vaccination at a cost of $27. For more information
about immunization clinic services, contact June Gonzales,
RN at (409) 938-2244.
.For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org
Published in Galveston Daily News 01/12/05
Published in Galveston Daily News
01/13/05
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