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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2005

Collin County Health Care Services offers flu vaccination clinic for at-risk adults and children on Thursday

(McKinney, TX) -- Collin County Health Care Services will provide influenza (flu) vaccinations to at-risk adults and children on Thursday, October 20th from 8 am to 11 am and from 1 pm to 4 pm. The vaccination clinic will continue to run weekdays during these hours until the vaccine supply is depleted. Collin County is expecting to receive new shipments of flu vaccine bi-weekly and will continue giving vaccinations whenever new shipments arrive.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, persons eligible to receive the flu vaccine before October 24, 2005 should fall in one of the following categories:

• 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

The health department is located at 825 N. McDonald Street in McKinney. Medicare, Medicaid, and Chip are accepted; otherwise, the cost for the adult vaccination is $20. The cost for the children’s vaccine is based on a sliding scale fee, but the amount will not exceed $14 per dose. Cash and checks will be accepted.

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

###