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La Marque -
If you’re 50 or
older, you’ll get the chance to exercise your civic right and prevent the
flu at the same time this Election Day, November 7. In addition to casting a
ballot, flu shots will also be available to anyone desiring
flu prevention. The Galveston County Health
District will be at three locations in the county with
the vaccine.
This year the Health District is joining with 24 other communities across the country to
make the flu vaccine available to older adults in locations which normally have
a low flu vaccination rate. This effort known nationally as “Vote and Vax” is
made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
“We could
not be more excited to partner with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to bring
this important public health service to our community,” said Dr. Mark Guidry,
Health District CEO and Galveston County Health Authority. “Our strategic
health plan has put an emphasis on meeting the health needs of local senior
citizens and others and we feel these types of collaborations can only be
beneficial. All eligible seniors should take advantage of this opportunity to
receive a flu shot”
Since 2001, the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that all Americans
ages 50 and over receive annual flu shots to help limit the spread of the
influenza virus. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to the
disease, which kills more than 32,000 people over age 65 every year.
“Influenza is one of the deadliest wintertime diseases and yet is easily one of
the most preventable,” says Jane Isaacs Lowe, Ph.D., senior program officer with
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “The Vote and Vax initiative is a
creative, effective way to provide flu shots and other important public health
services to the members of our society who need them most”
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 $20 and
the pneumonia vaccination at a cost of $30. While the Vote and Vax program
targets senior citizens flu shots will be given to others that fall within the
CDC recommended populations to receive the shot annually.
The Health District along with the CDC recommends the following should receive a flu shot:
children 6 months to 5 years old; pregnant women; people 50 or older; anyone
with a chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes; and people who live
in nursing homes and other long term care facilities. It is also recommended
for health care workers and people who live with anyone in those risk groups.
For more information about Vote and Vax or additional clinics contact the District’s
Immunization Nurse Manager, June Gonzalez at (409) 938-2244.
Flu shots will be given at the following locations
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- A GCHD Immunization tent near 1750 Hwy 87, Crystal Beach
- Gulf Breeze Apartments, 1211 Moody, Galveston
- GCHD Headquarters, 1207 Oak St, La Marque
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