Harford County Health Department’s 2006 Flu Vaccine Schedule

ABERDEEN:             FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2006 (Rain date November 6^th)

**DRIVE-THRU       1:00 p.m.-- 4:00 p.m.
     ONLY                    Ripken Stadium 
                                    873 Long Drive
                                    Aberdeen, MD 21001

EDGEWOOD:           THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2006

                                    2:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m.

                                    Richlin Ballroom

                                    1700 Van Bibber Road

                                    Edgewood, MD 21040

JOPPA:                       FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2006

                                    10:00 a.m—2:00 p.m.

Mountain Christian Church

                                    1824 Mountain Road

                                    Joppa, MD 21085

ABERDEEN:             TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2006                        

                                    9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.              

                                    Evangel Assembly of God

                                    801 N. Paradise Road

                                    Aberdeen, MD 21001

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2006 flu vaccine clinics/page 2

LEVEL/                      FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2006

HAVRE DE GRACE: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

                                    Level Fire Hall

                                    3633 Level Village Road         

                                    Havre de Grace, MD 21078

The cost of the vaccine is $20.00 or Medicare may be billed with proof of card. According to Tina Regester Public Information Officer, “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not anticipate an influenza vaccine shortage this year so at this time, the Harford County Health Department expects to have enough flu vaccine for the season.   We advise that adults and children aged 6 months and older should receive the vaccine to protect against the virus.  However, the vaccine is currently not approved for children less than 6 months of age.”  Regester encourages everyone planning on getting a flu shot to wear a short sleeve or loose fitting shirt to allow the nurse access to the upper arm area where the shot will be given.

            “There are two easy ways to ward off the flu: #1: wash your hands frequently and #2: get a flu vaccine each fall preferably between October and mid-November,” Regester advised.  “The Health Department is offering five different clinics across the county which will give people ample opportunities to receive the vaccine. We had such great response last year, we are starting off with a Drive-thru clinic at Ripken Stadium.  Families can get their flu vaccinations in the convenience of their own vehicles.”

It takes about two weeks after vaccination to develop protection against the influenza virus.  Past infection with the flu or previous vaccination does not offer immunity from year to year like some other vaccines.

While you cannot get the flu from the vaccine, people with serious allergic reactions to eggs or a previous dose of influenza vaccine, and people with a history of Guillian-Barre Syndrome, should talk with their doctor before being vaccinated.  Anyone with a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until symptoms subside.

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2006 flu vaccine clinics/page 3

FluMist® nasal spray, an alternative to the flu shot for healthy people aged 5-49 years and not pregnant, is available at all of the clinics except for the Drive-thru clinic.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.  It is spread from person to person through the air by coughing or sneezing.  It is also spread through direct contact with an infected person.  Influenza can be a serious disease that causes severe complications such as pneumonia, dehydration and sinus infections and can also make heart disease or chronic lung disease worse.

People at higher risk of complications from the flu are children 6 to 23 months of age, people 65 years old and older, between 6 months and 18 years on long-term aspirin therapy, those with weakened immune systems, serious long-term health problems such as heart disease or lung disease including asthma, living in a nursing home, assisted living facility or rehabilitation facility, pregnant women in the second or third trimester, and anyone who comes in close contact with people at risk for complications.

Residents can receive updates on the vaccine and clinics by calling the Harford County Health Department’s 24 hour Flu Hotline at (410) 420-3433.  For general information about the flu, check the following websites: Harford County Health Department: http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/health or the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at http://www.edcp.org/influenza.  For answers to specific medical questions regarding the flu and the flu vaccine, call (410) 638-8459.

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