Flu clinics continue to take place at VMH Community and Home Care
Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care will be continuing its community flu clinics this month during regular immunization clinic hours on the following dates: November 16 from 1-6 p.m., November 23 from 1-4 p.m., and November 30 from 1-4 p.m.
The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, and a combination of flu and pneumonia vaccine will all be available. Tetanus shots will be offered as well.
Medicare does cover these costs. Billing for Medicare will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their physician’s name and their Medicare number with them.
Influenza, also called the flu, can cause fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches to people of any age, and can lead to pneumonia and even death. But most deaths caused by influenza are in elderly people.
Flu shots are highly recommended for the following people:
· Anyone age 50 and over.
· Residents of long term care facilities with chronic medical conditions.
· Any child or adult, including pregnant women, who has a serious long-term health problem with heart disease, anemia, asthma, lung disease, kidney disease or diabetes, and in the past year had to see a doctor regularly or be admitted to a hospital.
· Women who will be more than three months pregnant during influenza season.
· People six months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment (these people could develop Reye Syndrome if they catch influenza).
· People who are less able to fight infections because of a disease he/she was born with or contracted (like HIV), are receiving treatments with drugs such as steroids or are having cancer treatments with x-rays or drugs.
· Anyone having close contact with people who are at high risk for contracting a serious case of influenza, including health care workers and people living with high risk persons.
· Influenza vaccines are also recommended for people in schools and colleges, people who provide important community services, people going to the tropics any time of the year and just anyone who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza.
An annual flu shot is also encouraged for:
· Healthy children six to 23 months of age.
· Household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants from newborn to 23 months of age, especially those younger than six months.
· People who provide essential community services.
· People at high risk for flu complications who travel to the southern hemisphere between April and September, or who travel to the tropics or in organized tourist groups at any time.
· People living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions, to prevent outbreaks.
· Anyone else who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza.
Since the influenza viruses change frequently, they may not always be covered by the vaccine and the vaccine does not protect against other viral infections other than influenza.
Anyone receiving the influenza vaccination should be sure to tell their doctor or nurse if they have or have had any of the following symptoms:
· A serious allergy to eggs.
· A serious allergic reaction or other problem after getting the influenza vaccination.
· Were ever paralyzed by Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
· Now have a moderate or severe illness.
People should check with their local family practice physician if they have any questions about eligibility for the influenza vaccination.
For more information, call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Department at 563-568-5660. Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
