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 for Children will be accepted. Please bring the patient's Medicare Part B or Texas Medicaid for Children card to the clinic. For those who do not have Medicare Part B or Texas Medicaid for Children, the cost for the vaccine is $40. For uninsured children 18 years of age and younger, the price of vaccinations are based on a sliding scale with a maximum of $14 per vaccination. 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:
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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.
Collin County Influenza Surveillance Reports
CDC Weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports
Texas DSHS Influenza Surveillance Information
Provider Reports for Influenza
Physician and Hospitals - Flu Weekly Report Form
Schools - Flu Weekly Report Form
Links & Resources
Influenza Information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Influenza Information (Texas Department of State Health Services)
National and International Surveillance Information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Texas Surveillance Information (Texas Department of State Health Services)
