Nurses will be administering seasonal flu shots
BOSTON -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) are sponsoring a series of public health clinics this fall to vaccinate residents against the seasonal flu. The clinics are open to all Boston residents and vaccinations are free.
“The best way to protect against seasonal flu is to get a flu vaccination every year,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, BPHC executive director. “Those people particularly at risk for serious illness if they get seasonal flu include pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and people with underlying medical problems.”
The city of Boston is partnering with community health centers, hospitals, and other organizations to provide free flu vaccinations across the city this fall. Nearly three dozen public flu clinics are scheduled between now and October 21, and many more are planned.
While flu vaccinations are voluntary, Boston officials are actively encouraging residents who are at high risk for serious illness themselves or who are routinely in close contact with those at high risk from seasonal flu to get a seasonal flu vaccination. This will help reduce the spread of influenza-like illness in the community.
Although the seasonal influenza vaccination does not provide protection against novel H1N1, seasonal flu kills an average of 36,000 people nationwide every year. The novel H1N1 vaccine, which is not expected to be available until later this fall, is recommended for healthcare and emergency medical service workers, pregnant women, all persons six months through 24 years of age, caregivers for children under six months of age, and adults 25 to 64 years old with other health problems.
In addition to getting a flu vaccination, Dr. Ferrer reminds residents of these few simple steps to prevent the spread of flu:
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue away, or cough and sneeze into your upper elbow
· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
· Stay home at least four days if you are sick with flu
Seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu cause similar symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, sore throat, headache, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Persons exhibiting these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider. Both seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu are treated the same way.
Flu-related information, including an updated list of all public flu clinics, can be found on the Public Health Commission’s website, www.bphc.org/flu, or by calling the Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050.
- BPHC -