Get Vaccinated Against Seasonal Flu Now to Ensure Protection for Yourself and Your Family | Families

NOTHERN Ky (FOX19) - The cooler weather and the leaves falling means flu season is right around the corner, and now is the best time to protect yourself and your family against the illness. Seasonal flu is a serious disease that results in 24,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations every year on average. The Northern Kentucky Health Department is encouraging any Northern Kentucky resident wanting to reduce his or her risk of getting seasonal flu to be vaccinated this fall.

 The Health Department will offer the seasonal flu vaccine at four off-site clinics. This vaccine provides protection against last year’s swine flu (H1N1), as well as two other strains, an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)–like virus, and a B/Brisbane/60/2008–like virus. The clinics are open to the public and no appointment is necessary. Cost for the vaccine is $25. Medicare and Medicaid will be accepted. Residents of Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties will not be turned away due to inability to pay. All clinics will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. Dates and locations are as follows:

• Tuesday, October 12, 2010, Mary Anne Mongan branch of the Kenton County Public Library, 502 Scott Blvd., Covington, Ky.
• Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at the Main branch of the Boone County Public Library, 1786 Burlington Pike, Burlington, Ky.
• Thursday, October 14, 2010, at the Williamstown Baptist Church, 214 N. Main St., Williamstown, Ky.
• Monday, October 18, 2010, at the Newport Branch of the Campbell County Public Library, 901 E. Sixth St., Newport, Ky.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone over the age of 6 months receive a seasonal flu vaccine this year. To encourage increased vaccination for children, the Health Department is offering pediatric doses of the seasonal flu vaccine. The CDC recommends any child younger than 9 who has never received a flu vaccine, or has only received one dose of flu vaccine in the past, receive two doses this year, spaced at least four weeks apart.  The vaccine will be available in both shot and nasal spray form as supplies allow. Please note that anyone with egg allergies or those who have had a serious reaction to a previous flu vaccine cannot receive the vaccine from the Health Department.

The Health Department will also provide the flu vaccine by appointment in its four county health centers. To schedule an appointment, call the Health Department at 859.341.4264.

The classic symptoms of influenza include sudden onset of chills, fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, dry cough and extreme fatigue. Children who develop flu symptoms should not be treated with aspirin or aspirin-containing medications, as it can lead to Reye’s Syndrome.

 For more information on the seasonal flu, please call the Health Department’s flu information line at 859.392.0678 or visit http://www.nkyhealth.org