GILROY
– The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is encouraging
those at high risk for complications from influenza to be
vaccinated early. Flu season is under way and vaccinations can help
protect against getting or carrying the flu to others.
GILROY – The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is encouraging those at high risk for complications from influenza to be vaccinated early. Flu season is under way and vaccinations can help protect against getting or carrying the flu to others.
If their own physician is not providing flu vaccinations, Santa Clara County residents can receive a flu vaccination from the Public Health Department Immunization Program clinic at 80 Highland Ave., San Martin, on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
The county program is not alone in its vaccination efforts. Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy has put on several health fairs in recent weeks providing free immunizations in most cases.
“The fairs have been well attended. We’ve probably done between 70 and 100 vaccines each time,” hospital spokeswoman Vivian Smith said.
Smith said the hospital will send a registered nurse to any community group that can provide a venue for the shots.
“We’ll be there provided we can get the vaccines. So far, we’ve had no problems with getting supplies,” Smith said.
At a recent health fair at the Gilroy senior center, 95 individuals received flu vaccines.
Smith can be contacted at the hospital at 848-8601.
As for the county program, flu shots are free for children 3 to 8, $5 for youths 8 to 18, and $10 for adults.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention., warns that flu season could be worse than usual.
Gerberding begged people to get an early flu shot to avoid a potentially staggering flu season nationwide.
High-risk individuals include:
• Adults 60 years or older
• Anyone with chronic or long-term health problem such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer, kidney disease and HIV/AIDS
• Women who will be in their second or third trimester of pregnancy
• Infants aged 6 to 23 months and residents of nursing or long-term care facilities.
Those who can transmit the disease to high-risk individuals should also consider getting a flu vaccination, including health care workers and household contacts of members of at-risk groups.
Details: Visit www.sccphd.org/iz or call
792-5200.
