Anyone interested in walking may do so
at the Morton County Civic Center
Monday - Friday,
9:00 a.m. - Noon & 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m
Flu Shot Clinic Sept. 28th, 2011
The Morton County Health Dept. will be having their annual flu shot clinic, Wednesday, Sept. 28th, 2011 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Morton County Civic Center. Flu shots available for all ages 6 months and up. Flu shots are $30. You can do private pay, or bill BC/BS or Medicare. 10 Reasons why you should get the flu shot.
10 Reasons Why You Should Get Your Flu Shot
- It's your responsibility to protect your family. The best way to protect your family and community from influenza, also called the flu, is by getting everyone vaccinated. Even the healthiest person who's never had seasonal influenza is at risk and needs to be vaccinated for themselves and also not to spread to others. It's that simple.
- Influenza is more serious than you think. Influenza claims the lives of about 100 children in the U.S. every year and hospitalizes around 20,000. About half of children who die because of influenza were previously healthy. And influenza is the 8th-leading cause of death in the United States among people of all ages.
- Influenza can worsen chronic medical conditions - don't put your family's health at risk. We have MANY individuals in our community with compromised immune systems. Influenza immunization is especially important for people with certain underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, etc. Influenza can worsen these conditions or cause serious complications in people who have them. For any healthcare worker, whom are frequently in contact with these individuals, it becomes an OBLIGATION to be vaccinated to give additional protection to these at-risk people.
- Immunizing the family helps protect vulnerable infants. Children less than 6 months of age are too young to be vaccinated against influenza, but they are at the greatest risk of hospitalization for it. To create a protective "cocoon" of immunity around unvaccinated infants, parents should get older siblings, themselves and all other close contacts of the baby immunized.
- Keep your kids at school and yourself at work, where you belong. You have plenty to worry about without having to get kids caught up on missed school work, a big game, the prom or graduation. And when kids miss school, parents often lose work days to care for them.
- Your child doesn't live in a bubble. Children share close quarters inside schools and child care facilities. And let's face it - their hygiene habits are usually less than par! Your child is constantly touching, playing and sharing with others. It's no wonder more children get influenza every year than people of any other age group. So when you can't be there to protect your child, the vaccine is. As well as re-enforcing good hand washing habits!
- Why keep taking the annual seasonal influenza gamble? This could be the year your luck runs out. To prevent influenza, place your bets on immunizing your child and yourselves.
- Getting your family immunized is easy. In addition to your primary health care professional, many local hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, retail stores and even some employers hold vaccination clinics. We don't care where you get it, just get it!!
- The influenza vaccine is safe and effective. Seasonal influenza vaccine is safe, time tested and made in the same way every year. Of course, as with all medications, vaccines can be associated with some mild, short-term side effects. Immunization is the best way to prevent influenza. The influenza vaccine can reduce chances of getting the flu by 70 to 90 percent and, if someone gets vaccinated but still gets the flu, chances are they will get a less severe case.
- Why not? Given that influenza immunization is such a simple and safe way to help protect your child's health, why not take advantage of it? Be proactive instead of reactive, to the flu!!
Immunization Saves Lives
Vaccine Preventable Diseases are on the Rise Nationwide!!
Please call the Morton County Health Department to review your families immunization records so that we can get you up-to-date!!
Protect Yourself, Protect Others....Immunize!!
Call today to review your immunization records.
(620) 697-2612
FYI...Please be aware of the following Health Advisory regarding Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
This is not to cause a panic, just to alert you to a rise nationwide and a case in Kansas. Please encourage Tdap vaccine for adults 19-64 years of age. Adolescents 11-18 years of age can have Tdap as well. And as always feel free to call me if I can be of any assistance.
PERTUSSIS CLAIMS LIFE OF KANSAS INFANT-and is on the rise nationwide.
After a one month stay in a PICU, a three month old Kansas infant died of whooping cough (pertussis) last month after exposure to adults with probable undiagnosed pertussis. The infant originally was due to receive his first dose of DTaP but because of illness, the physician deferred vaccination.
This is a reminder that the highly contagious disease can kill babies. It underscores the need to protect infants from pertussis transmission, until the 3 dose primary series of DTaP can be administered.
- Educating caretakers and the public about preventing exposure of infants to any person with a cough illness,
- Educating healthcare providers to consider pertussis in adolescents and adults with a cough illness and
- Administering the Tdap vaccine to mothers of infants, women considering pregnancy, people in contact with pregnant women or infants and family members and caregivers of infants.
For more information please read the pertussis (whooping cough) fact sheet by clicking here and for additional information please click here
As always....Please report any suspected case of pertussis immediately to the Morton County Health Department 620-697-2612 or Rhianna's cell 620-360-1213 or to the Kansas Epidemiology Hotline 24 hours a day at 877-427-7317. Do not wait to report until test results are available.
