Flu vaccines available at health department

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
With so much emphasis being placed on H1N1 this winter, seasonal flu seems to have taken a back seat.
The availability of vaccine has been an issue for county health departments across the state. However, the Franklin County Health Department recently received a small amount of seasonal flu vaccine and plans to hold a mass clinic on Dec. 14. The clinic will be held from 8 - 11 a.m. and from 1 - 4 p.m. that day.
H1N1 vaccine will also be available as well as pneumococcal vaccine, officials said.
On average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die each year in the United States from complications associated with influenza. Typical symptoms of the flu include fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, chills, muscle aches and often, extreme fatigue.
The flu can lead to pneumonia and can be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions and can cause high fever and seizures in children.
The vaccine is recommended for anyone who is at risk of complications from the flu, including all children from six months to five years of age, anyone 50 years of age and older, anyone six months to 18 years of age on long term aspirin treatment, women who will be pregnant during the flu season, anyone with a weakened immune system or with certain muscle or nerve disorders and residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities.