Public Information Office 210 S. McDonald Street Suite 626 McKinney, Texas 75069 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2005

Collin County Health Care Services to offer flu vaccinations to at-risk adults

(McKinney, TX) -- Collin County Health Care Services will provide influenza (flu) vaccinations to at-risk adults on Wednesday, September 21st and Thursday, September 22nd from 8 am to 11 am and from 1 pm to 4 pm each day. So far, the health department has only received its first shipment of adult vaccine this season. Flu vaccine for children has not yet arrived.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults currently eligible to receive the flu vaccine should fall in one of the following categories:

• The persons are ages 65 or older
• The persons have 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.

The health department is located at 825 N. McDonald Street in McKinney. Medicare and Medicaid are accepted; otherwise, the cost is $20.

For additional information about this year’s flu vaccine, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.

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