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Flu Shots Now Available
News release
October 26, 2005
La Marque – The misery of having the flu can be avoided by getting a
flu shot according to officials with the Galveston County Health District. The
District’s annual flu prevention campaign was kicked off recently and officials
are making vaccinations available to Galveston County residents. Anyone
who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated.
However, certain people should make the effort to get vaccinated each year.
Priority groups to receive flu shots include people age 65 and older, residents
of long-term care facilities, people ages 2 years to 64 years with chronic
health conditions, children ages 6 months to 23 months, pregnant women,
health-care workers who provide direct patient care, and caregivers of children
less than 6 months old. “Getting vaccinated, especially for those in
high-risk populations, is the best prevention,” says Mark Guidry, M.D., M.P.H.,
Health Authority for the Galveston County 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.”
Influenza, or flu, is a viral respiratory illness marked by a sudden onset of
fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat or stuffy nose and
muscle aches. The illness is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or
talks, sending the highly contagious virus into the air.In addition to getting a flu shot some common sense precautions can also prevent
the spread of the flu according to Dr. Dana Beckham, Chief Epidemiologist for
the Health District. “People should avoid close contact and practice
respiratory etiquette such as covering your mouth when you cough and covering
your nose when you sneeze.”
Beckham also stresses the importance of
frequent and adequate hand washing to prevent the spread of flu. “People should
wash their hands often for 15 to 20 seconds with soap and water,” she says. “If
that is not available use a hand sanitizing gel. We can’t stress enough the
importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of illness”
Galveston County Residents can obtain their
flu vaccination at one of the following locations starting Monday, October 31st.
Health District Headquarters
1207 Oak Street, La Marque
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Galveston Immunization Clinic
4700 Broadway, Galveston
Monday and Wednesdays
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. &
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
For the latest information
available by the Health District, go to
www.gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2201
Printed in Gulf Coast E-news
10/28/05
Printed in the Daily News 10/29/05
For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org
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