The Lassen County Public Health Department is advising area residents to ‘get your flu shot, not the flu’ and will be offering a drive-thru influenza vaccination clinic next Tuesday, September 17th, next to Jensen Hall at the Lassen County Fairgrounds.
According to the Public Health Department, the flu season in the United States occurs in the fall and winter. Seasonal flu activity usually peaks in January or February, but it can occur as early as October and as late as May.
Each year The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks flu threat levels across the United States by providing a weekly report that can be found on their website of visits made to health care providers for flu-like symptoms and influenza activity across the United States.
You can protect yourself and your family from the flu by getting vaccinated.
The Public Health Department has suggestions to help you avoid the flu:
- Always cover your cough or sneeze
- Wash your hands
- Stay home when you are sick
- And finally the best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year
The overall health impact of a flu season varies each year. On average, each year in the United States 5 to 20 percent of the population get the flu. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized annually from flu-related complications and deaths from flu-related causes range from 3,300 to 48,600.
People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
You don’t even have to get out of your car to get the vaccine, which is only $2 and fee waivers are available. Flu shots are available for anyone over 18 and flu-mist is available for anyone 2 to 18 years-old without asthma.
Pregnant women, children with asthma or children 6 months old through 2years should make an appointment to get vaccinated.
Tuesday’s clinic will be from 11:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. in the fairground’s parking lot. For more information call Lassen County Public Health at 251-8183.
