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In preparation for the 2012-2013 flu season, Collin County Health Care is offering influenza (flu) vaccinations for ages 6 months or older.
Influenza vaccinations will be offered Monday through Friday
from 7:30 am to 11 am, and 1 pm to 4 pm. Medicare Part B and Texas Medicaid will be accepted.
Please bring Medicare or Medicaid cards to the clinic. For those who do
not have Medicare Part B or Medicaid, the cost for the vaccine is
$20. Cash, check, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
Please wear short sleeves if possible. To determine the availability of
the flu vaccine on a given day, please call the Collin County Health Care
Services office at 972-548-5500.
Some people are at high risk of having serious flu complications
or live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications.
People at high risk include:
- Adults aged 65 or older
- Children aged 6-23 months
- Children aged 6 months - 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy
- Children 2 years of age or older who live with one or more children
less than 6 months of age
- Adults and children with a long-term health problem such as heart
disease; kidney disease; lung diseases like asthma; metabolic diseases
like diabetes; blood disorders like anemia; a weakened immune system
caused by cancer, cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS, or steroid therapy; or
certain conditions such as neuromuscular disorders that can cause breathing
problems
- Pregnant women
- Residents of nursing homes or long-term-care facilities
- Health care workers involved in direct, hands-on, face-to-face patient
care
- Persons who live with or care for one or more children less than six
months of age
Who should not be vaccinated?
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting
a physician. They include:
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
- People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination
in the past.
- People with an allergy to Thimerosol.
- People who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks
of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
- Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved
for use in this age group).
- People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait
to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
Prevention
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated
each fall, but good health habits can also help protect against the flu.
To decrease the risk of getting sick this flu season:
- Wash your hands! Over 20 infectious agents, including the flu,
can be avoided by properly washing your hands.
- Avoid close contact with those that are sick.
- Stay at home when you are sick to avoid spreading infection to others.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. If a tissue is not available,
cough or sneeze into your elbow to avoid contaminating your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Collin County Surveillance
Each year data concerning the number of flu cases being seen in schools
and physician offices is collected. Nasal swabs may be used to further
investigate areas that are hardest hit by influenza-like illness. Early,
mid, and late season specimens are examined. All of these surveillance
activities help identify the changes that naturally occur among circulating
influenza viruses.
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