Prevalence Of Flu Shot Clinics, Information Denote Importance Of Prevention

By John Voket

Get your flu shot, wash your hands frequently, and if you are feeling sick, stay home and away from others.

Simply put, these are the recommendations issued by Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert, who kicked off the 2010 flu season a little earlier than usual with a late September flu shot clinic at Newtown’s community health fair last weekend.

“Historically, we’ve always ramped up our promotion of flu prevention messages in October and November, as well as offering flu shots at various locations,” Ms Culbert told The Newtown Bee this week. “If it takes starting earlier to get more folks vaccinated to help prevent more flu cases, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

And since the fall begins bringing people indoors more frequently, she is also stressing basic prevention tips, including washing hands frequently, asking residents to remember to cough and sneeze into their sleeves instead of their hands, and staying home when they feel ill, to prevent the possible spread of colds and the flu.

Ms Culbert reminds residents in her jurisdiction that this year’s round of flu vaccines include an H1N1 component. She is also pleased to see among the most coordinated and comprehensive program of flu shot clinics in her memory.

For the first time health authorities locally and across the nation are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated. There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older. This year, a record vaccine supply is expected — an all-in-one inoculation that now promises protection against that swine flu strain plus two other kinds of influenza.

But without last year’s scare factor, the question is how many people will heed the new policy for near-universal vaccination.

No more stopping to check if you are on a high-risk list: A yearly dose is recommended for virtually everyone except babies younger than 6 months — the shot is not approved for tots that young — and people with severe allergies to the eggs used to brew it.

“Influenza is serious, and anyone, including healthy people, can get the flu and spread the flu,” said Dr Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and those around you.”

The CDC was moving toward that policy even before last year’s pandemic brought home an inescapable fact: The flu virus does not just kill grandparents and babies and people with weak lungs or hearts, although they are particularly vulnerable.

High Dose Shot

The new high-dose version has been developed for seniors because as immune systems weaken with age, they do not respond as actively to a flu shot. Sanofi Pasteur’s Fluzone High-Dose quadruples the standard dose for people 65 and older.

This winter, scientists will track if that translates into less illness. Until that proof is in, the CDC says it is OK to choose either option.

Sanofi is finalizing how much to make, and availability may vary with location.

VNS of Connecticut will host public flu shot clinics at more than half a dozen area churches during October and November. Cost of the inoculations is $30, however the agency will bill the following insurers Medicare, Connecticare, HealthNet Commercial, HealthNet Smart Choice, and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield customers.

The full schedule is as follows:

October 10, 10 to 11:30 am, St Jude’s, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe

October 17, 9 to 10:30 am, St Catherine of Siena, 200 Shelton Road, Trumbull

October 17, 11 am to 12:30 pm, Nichols United Methodist, 35 Shelton Road, Trumbull

October 24, 9:30 to 11:30 am, St Luke’s, 84 Long Lots Road, Westport

November 7, 10 am to noon, Our Lady of Assumption, 545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield,

November 14, 10 am to noon, St Thomas Aquinas, 1719 Post Road, Fairfield

November 21, 10 am to noon, St Rose of Lima and Newtown Congregational, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown

For more information or directions, contact the churches directly.

Danbury Visiting Nurse Association (Danbury VNA) will offer a series of public flu clinics throughout the flu season, including daily clinics at the Danbury VNA office, 4 Liberty Street.

In an effort to minimize wait time for participants, the agency is also offering online registration. Participants may view the full public clinic schedule as well as register for an appointment by visiting www.danburyvna.org.

Danbury VNA information is also available by calling the agency’s flu hotline at 203-730-5239.

“In order to keep our community safe and minimize the spread of influenza, our goal is to provide immunizations to as many residents as possible. We are striving to make it as convenient as possible to get a flu shot by offering many clinics and at varying times and days of the week,” said Irene Litwak, DVNA Flu program manager. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this added benefit that allows participants to get a flu shot without waiting in long lines.”

In addition, two walk-in seasonal flu clinics are again being offered to the public at the Jewish Federation, 444 Main Street North, Southbury. The clinics take place on Wednesday, October 6, from 10 am to noon, and Thursday, October 21, from 1 to 3 pm.

Shots are available for anyone age 9 and over, and there is no need to preregister for either of the clinics. Pneumonia shots will also be available.

Those seeking shots should bring their insurance cards. Covered insurances for flu shots at the Jewish Federation are: Medicare Part B; Anthem Blue Cross/ Blue Shield; ConnectiCare; Oxford; Aetna; and HealthNet.

There will be a charge for clients not covered by those insurances of $37 for flu and $57 for pneumonia shots.

 Associated Press content was used in this report.