Flu Shot Clinic Next Week

With all the talk of MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant staph infection, that's been going on recently, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that it's a relatively routine thing. The spread of nearly any infection can be controlled by simple things such as proper hand washing. But what's getting lost in the MRSA hype is a fact pointed out by state health officials yesterday. Another common medical occurrence -- the flu -- kills more than twice as many people each year as MRSA -- and that's including the people who die from MRSA in hospitals, where the bacteria is much stronger.

Already, cases of influenza have been reported in California, Florida, Minnesota, Indiana and several other states. Is North Carolina ready? Vaccination rates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that too few in the state have been vaccinated against the disease. Many Americans recommended by the CDC for flu vaccinations do not even realize they are at risk. Of those that do, a good percentage do not know where to turn to receive this year’s vaccine, which fortunately is in abundant supply.

The American Lung Association has just introduced a valuable new and potentially life-saving online resource for anyway with questions or concerns about influenza and its side effects, which together killed some 36,000 Americans last year.

Faces of Influenza (www.facesofinfluenza.org) not only will help visitors determine whether they are in a risk category, e.g., older Americans, health care workers, parents, teachers, children, etc, but the site features a “flu clinic locator” that will direct them to a local clinic in your area where they can be vaccinated.

Wilkes County will host another clinic, following the successful clinics at the four high schools last weekend. Beginning Monday, and running through Halloween Day, Wilkes County Health Department will be holding a “Walk-In Flu Clinic” for the public. The clinic will be held in the Health Department’s waiting room from 9:00 - 11:30 am and 1:00 - 4:00 pm each day.

The cost is $25 -- or for those on various public assistance programs, it's free if you bring y our ID card. Call the Health Department at 651-7450 for more information regarding this clinic.