Seasonal Flu Vaccine to be available in our area soon

Here is the full news release from the Virginia Department of Health:

Roanoke, Virginia – Seasonal flu vaccine is now available in Roanoke and surrounding communities. The Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts will offer the vaccine in a series of seasonal flu clinics throughout the area, beginning Thursday, September 3, 2009.

Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications and 36,000 die. Now is the time to get vaccinated. If you receive the vaccine now, you’ll be protected from seasonal flu throughout the entire flu season, until next spring. Not only will you protect yourself, you’ll also protect your family and those around you. “Getting a seasonal flu shot is the best way to keep from getting sick from the seasonal flu,” commented Dr. Stephanie L. Harper, Health Director, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts, “and the best time to get vaccinated for seasonal flu is now.”

Seasonal flu is different from the novel H1N1 flu, which spread worldwide earlier this year. The Health Department recommends receiving both vaccines to protect against both types of flu. The vaccine for H1N1 is not yet available, but is expected in mid- to late-October.

SEASONAL FLU VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS

The Virginia Department of Health recommends that the following individuals get vaccinated each year:

Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
Pregnant women
People 50 years of age and older
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
a. Health care workers
b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated

FLU CLINICS
Locations, dates, and times for Flu Clinics in the Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts are as follows:

Roanoke City Health Department

Friday mornings, September 4, 11, 18, 25

Walk In 8:30 – 11:30 or call for an appointment

Botetourt Health Department

1. September 3 and September 17

By Appointment

2. September 24 – Fincastle Baptist Church Mass Seasonal Flu Clinic

Alleghany/Covington Health Department

1. Thursday mornings in September (September 3, 10, 17, 24)

8:30-11:00am

By Appointment

2. September 16, 9:00 – 4:00pm

Mass Seasonal Flu Clinic at Dabney LancasterCommunity College, Covington

Craig County Health Department

1. Friday mornings in September (September 4, 11, 18, 25)

Call for an appointment

2. September 30

Mass Seasonal Flu Clinic

Salem Health Department

1. Mondays, September 14, 21, 28

Walk In 7:00am – 10:00am

2. Tuesday, September 1

By Appointment

3. Tuesday, September 8

Walk In 8:15am – 3:00pm

Vinton Health Department

1. September 3

Seasonal Flu Clinic

Call for an appointment

2. September 17

Seasonal Flu clinic

Call for an Appointment

The Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts include Roanoke, Salem, Vinton, Covington, and Clifton Forge, and Roanoke, Alleghany, Botetourt, and Craig Counties. For more information, call your local health department or 540-857-7600.