Published: October 19, 2009 10:22 am      

Third seasonal flu clinic is today in Northeast Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY — The third seasonal influenza vaccination clinic conducted by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today or while supplies last, at the Metro Tech Technology Center, 1900 Springlake Drive, in Oklahoma City.

This clinic will be primarily for adults who can receive the injectable vaccine. There will be flu mist available while supplies last for children and adults who want the vaccine.

“Vaccine is still our best tool to protect against the flu. Not only does it prevent people from becoming ill, it also prevents the spread of the flu,” said Gary Cox, Director of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department.

The seasonal influenza vaccine is widely available. Health officials believe this year’s supply of seasonal vaccine will be sufficient to meet the demand for shots. Vaccine is also available through private health-care providers. The immunizations are free of charge from the health department; however, the health department will accept donations to help cover the cost of administering the vaccine.

The best way to prevent influenza is to receive an annual vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who should get the seasonal influenza vaccination each year are:

• Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday;

• Pregnant women;

• People 50 years of age and older;

• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; and

• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including: Health-care workers, household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu and household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).

One common myth is that people can get the flu form a vaccination, this belief is held because the inactivated vaccine is made from dead or “killed” viruses. During the fall and winter months, however, when influenza vaccines are typically given, people often experience a cold or other respiratory infection from other organisms after recently receiving a flu shot, and they often associate the vaccination with what they think is a case of the flu.

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department has a new H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza information line available for the public. The number is 419-4123. This is a recorded message in English and Spanish. The OCCHD Web site is: http://www.cchdoc.com.