Here's a Shot in the Arm for You!

Here’s a shot in the arm for you!

I take a flu
shot every year!  I hate taking shots;
the thought of it scares me, because it hurts to have a needle stuck in your
arm.  I don’t get many people who say  “I like to get a shot stuck in my arm”, in
fact most people say they really don’t like getting a shot in their arm. 

Why can’t the
flu shot last a long time, like other vaccines that are recommended by our
doctors?

The reason
is the influenza virus (the flu) changes every year.  In February each year, the World Health
Organization (WHO) has a panel of experts determine which of the flu viruses
circulating will likely be the ones to put into the next years flu
vaccine.  The vaccine has three types of flu
viruses in it; this year there are two new viruses and one which has remained
the same as last year.  Hopefully the WHO
picked out the viruses which will be causing the most harm, so that when you do
take your flu shot, you will be protected from the flu.

No one wants
to get sick from the flu, and I know I don’t want to get sick from someone who
is out and about or at work and sick with the flu and spreading their germs
around. The flu is contagious before you know you are sick, that is a very
tricky thing.  So getting the flu shot
can help you from getting sick and from passing the flu on to your friends and
family and co-workers.

The East Shore District Health Department
is having a Mass Flu Clinic this year. 
This clinic does a few good things: 
1. It gives you a chance to get your flu shot (not that you can’t find
it on every corner in every neighborhood). 2. It tests our capability to
provide many shots (flu this year, hopefully never smallpox) to many people as
we have our Shoreline Medical Reserve Corp members providing many of the
functions at this clinic. And 3. We do bill your insurance (no co-pay) by doing
this it helps us provides services to the communities we serve which we do not
charge for such as the health programs at the Community Dining Room, blood
pressure screening, and the Live Well program.

The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all people aged 6 months old and
older take the flu shot annually.  The
link to their site for this year’s flu season is below.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm#vaccine-available

There are
two other flu clinics offered in our health districts other towns. North Branford Town Hall   Thursday
October 25, 2012 from 2:30-4:30pm.
Old Stone Church, 251 Main St. East Haven Tuesday November 13, 2012
from 2:30-4:30pm.

Appointments
can also be made at the health department by calling 203 481 4233 and ask for
the public health nurse.