Flu clinics start soon in Wayne County

Every winter, influenza continues to be one of the seasons leading health problems. New Yorkers need to know what to do to protect themselves against this potentially fatal illness.

In any given year, between five and 20 percent of all New Yorkers will come down with influenza, commonly known as flu. In a typical year, more than 200,000 Americans are admitted to hospitals because of the flu, and, on average, about 36,000 people die. But the good news is that influenza is often preventable. Influenza is a contagious disease caused by a virus. It attacks the nose, throat and lungs.

People over 50 years of age, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women and very young children are more likely to get complications from the flu. Pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear infections are typical complications from the flu. The flu can make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may have asthma episodes while they have the flu.

Flu clinics:

• Monday, October 29 at Palmyra Town Hall from 11 to 2
• Thursday, November 8, St. John's School, DeZeng St., Clyde, 1:30 to 4
• Thursday, November 15, Lyons Community Center, 11 to 2
• Red Creek Health Fair, Saturday, November 17, Red Creek High School Gym, 9 to noon
• Monday, November 19, Church of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Sodus, 105 W. Main St., 11 to 3
• Monday, November 26, St. Mary's of the Lake in Ontario, 11 to 2
• Monday, December 3, Alex Eligh Center, East Ave., Newark 1:30 to 4
• Thursday, November 29, Faith Methodist Church, Wolcott, 11 to 2

Make-up clinic

• Wayne County Public Health, Thursday, December 13, 1519 Nye Rd., Ste. 200, Lyons; By Appointment - 946.5749

When you come to clinic, please bring all your insurance cards. The cost of the flu vaccine is $32 and the pneumonia vaccine is $48 for those whose insurance does not cover these shots. For those without insurance, there is a sliding fee scale.

Call Public Health if you need further information at 946.5749 or 1.800.724.1170.

Two kinds of flu vaccine are available. As in past years, an inactivated influenza vaccine will be given as a shot, commonly known as the flu shot. Inactivated means that the vaccine uses a virus which has been killed, so there is no risk of getting the flu from the flu shot. The nasal spray vaccine is approved for healthy people from 5 to 49 years of age. It should not be used by pregnant women; people with heart, lung or kidney disease; people with a weakened immune system; or people on long-term aspirin treatment.

People with long-term health problems, pregnant women, children on long-term aspirin treatment, and residents of long term care facilities should get a flu shot every year. People who provide essential community services, or who live in dormitories or in crowded conditions should also consider getting the vaccine.

Children needing the flu vaccine should visit a doctor.

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