Free Flu Vaccine Clinics Planned

Two free flu vaccine clinics will be held in Newtown during October.

On Saturday, October 20, from 9 am to noon, the Newtown Visiting Nurse Association will sponsor a flu shot clinic in the lower meeting room of Edmond Town Hall.

The Newtown Health District will sponsor a free clinic on Thursday, October 25, from 9 am to 11 am, at the Sandy Hook Firehouse on Riverside Road.

Persons for whom the flu shot usually is recommended are those age 65 or older; children and adults with chronic illnesses such as heart, lung (including asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, and anemia); anyone taking long-term steroids; receiving cancer treatment; having an HIV infection; children and teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy; household members and caregivers of all at-risk persons; health care workers; residents and employees of nursing home and other chronic care facilities; students and others in institutional settings; anyone who wants to decrease the chance of getting the flu, especially essential service personnel such as police and firefighters.

Most people have no side effects from the flu shot. The most common reaction is soreness at the injection site for a day or two. According to medical authorities, the vaccine cannot cause influenza; any respiratory illness that occurs after vaccination is coincidental and unrelated to the vaccine.

Individuals who should not have the vaccine are those who have an allergy to eggs; anyone who has ever had a serious reaction to a flu shot; anyone with a fever; anyone who has ever had Guillian-Barre Syndrome.

Pregnant women should ask their physician, as should all persons who have any question about their own medical conditions.

Only persons age 18 or older are eligible for the free flu vaccine. Participants are advised to wear short sleeves or loose clothing. Medicare recipients should bring their cards.

Anyone who has questions should call VNA at 792-0864 or the Newtown Health District at 270-4291.