MonticelloLive

The yearly flu season is near, so today, the Drew County Health Unit is providing free flu shots at the First Assembly of God Church located at 915 Hwy 425 N until 6:00 p.m.

Any local resident who would like to receive a flu shot but is in need of transportation to the event should contact the office of First Assembly of God Church at 870-367-5483 to arrange for pick-up.

 The Drew County Health Unit is part of 81 health units statewide that are participating in one-day mass flu vaccination clinics.  

The purpose of the clinic is to provide free flu vaccine to Drew county citizens and also to exercise the county’s mass dispensing plan, designed to insure that health professionals and volunteers are prepared to vaccinate or dispense medication to a large population in a very short period of time. 

If Arkansas were ever to experience pandemic influenza or another such disaster, it might be necessary to distribute medications to many citizens quickly.  Karen Brown, Local Health Unit Administrator said, “The time to practice dispensing large amounts of medication is now, before we have a disaster.  It’s important for Drew County citizens to get their flu shot to protect them from influenza this year.  It’s also important to exercise our County Mass Dispensing Plan.   

This exercise will include dispensing approximately 1400 doses of free influenza vaccine to persons six months and older.  Drew County citizens are encouraged to participate in this practice event and receive a free flu shot.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) reports that there is an ample supply of flu vaccine this year.  Vaccine has been delivered to all clinics and is available to the public free.  After the clinics, shots will cost $20.00 per shot for anyone not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, or the Vaccines for Children Program. 

Influenza symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, dry cough, and runny or stuffy nose.

The influenza virus is spread through coughing or sneezing and by touching a hard surface with the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth.  The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year.  

You cannot catch the flu from the vaccination.  The vaccination uses a dead virus and cannot cause you to get the flu.  The vaccine usually becomes effective two weeks after being administered; therefore, the best time to be vaccinated is October to November.  

Though all persons over 6 months of age should get a flu shot each year, those most at risk for influenza disease complications are: those in nursing home; individuals over 50 years of age; persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, and kidneys, or who have diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia; women who will be pregnant during flu season; children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy.  Children six months through five years of age should receive the flu vaccine due to the increased probability of severe illness in this age group.  Daycare situations make these children especially vulnerable.  Health care workers are also at greater risk for passing influenza infection on to high-risk individuals and should be vaccinated.

An influenza vaccination offers 70 percent to 90 percent protection against infection and can decrease the severity and side effects if you do get sick.
 
For more information on seasonal influenza, click here.