Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways.
Although epidemics of flu happen every year, the timing, severity, and length
of the epidemic depends on many factors, including what influenza viruses are
spreading, whether they match the viruses in the vaccine, and how many people
get the vaccine.
Grinnell Regional Public Health will again offer public
vaccination clinics at location listed later in the article.
New for the 2013 – 2014 flu season is an improved
vaccine called FluMist Quadrivalent. This vaccine is used to prevent seasonal
influenza in people ages 2 years through 49 years and has been approved today
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FluMist Quadrivalent is the first
influenza vaccine to contain four strains of the influenza virus, two influenza
A strains and two influenza B strains.
GRMC will offer the mist form of Quadrivalent vaccine
at the scheduled public health clinics.
Area residents can protect themselves from the negative
effects of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommend several precautionary steps.
• Take time to receive the flu vaccination. It helps
protect you and those who cannot have the vaccination.
• Take everyday prevention steps to avoid exposure to
the virus. These include washing
your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use
an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid
touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid close
contact with sick people.
• If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your
illness. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics.
Antiviral drugs can make
illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They require a prescription
from your healthcare provider. If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least
24 hours after your fever is gone.
Grinnell Regional Public Health will provide vaccination
clinics throughout the county during October and November. These are open to
the public. See the complete list of locations below.
The high dose vaccine will be available again to
individuals over 65. The CDC reports multiple studies conducted have shown that
the body’s ability to build an antibody response to a vaccine declines with
age. Therefore, the high dose is recommended and will be available to all
individuals 65 and older.
The vaccination is a covered benefit of Medicare and
many insurance carriers. Please bring your insurance card at the time of the
clinic.
The CDC recommends that influenza vaccination begin as
soon as vaccine becomes available in the community and continue throughout the
flu season. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to
develop in the body and provide protection against influenza.
For more information contact Grinnell Regional Public
Health at 641-236-2385 or check the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.
2013
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Clinics
Date Time Location
Sept. 23 2
to 6 p.m. Grinnell Athletic and Recreation
Center,
1500
Penrose St, Grinnell
Sept. 26 10
to 11:30 a.m. Mayflower Community, Carman Center
Oct. 2 3:45
to 6 p.m. Grinnell High
School, media center
Oct. 3 10:30
to 11:30 a.m. Brookside South,
Grinnell
Oct. 7 10
to 11 a.m. Seeland Park, Tenplex lobby, Grinnell
Oct. 14 3:30 to 6 p.m. BGM School, Brooklyn
Oct. 21 3:30 to 6 p.m. Montezuma School, elementary
library
Oct. 29 11
a.m. to 1 p.m. Grinnell Regional Public Health
office*
*Appointment
necessary. Call
641-236-2385 to schedule.
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