Flu season is here and health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated.
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There are a number of locations throughout the county where people can get seasonal-flu shots, including pharmacies, doctors offices and medical clinics.
Along with the general public, the health care community is urging staff members to be diligent about getting vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
Cochise County Health Department staff, especially those who have direct patient contact, get seasonal-flu shots every year, Harik said. “Actually, most of our staff gets vaccinated because it’s the prudent thing to do.”
It’s important to dispel the myth that people can get the seasonal flu from receiving a flu shot, Harik added. Viruses contained in the vaccine are inactivated or killed, making it impossible to contract influenza from a shot. However, some mild side effects could occur. Recipients sometimes experience soreness or swelling at the vaccination site, a low-grade fever and body aches. Most of these minor reactions last one or two days.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, vaccinations against the flu should begin in September and continue through influenza season, which can end as late as May. The timing and duration of influenza seasons vary, with the highest incidence of activity occurring in January.
Local health officials say it’s important for the public to understand that the seasonal-flu virus and H1N1 are not the same thing. While residents are urged to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu, that shot will not protect against the H1N1 virus. Currently, H1N1 vaccine is going through the final stages of clinical trials and is expected be available toward the end of October or the beginning of November. H1N1 vaccine availability will be limited. High-risk populations — children and pregnant women — will be considered priorities when it comes to distributing the vaccine.
The Arizona Department of Health Services and Cochise County Health Department will have more information about H1N1 availability in upcoming weeks. Meanwhile, health officials are urging schools and workplaces to have a plan in place in the event of H1N1 outbreaks.
“The message that we want to get out is that it’s really important for everyone to get a seasonal-flu shot,” Harik said. “Because there will be a limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine, we’re not going to have enough for everyone. But there’s no reason not to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu.”
SVRHC Infection Control Coordinator Ann Kuhl says the hospital is working closely with its pharmacy department to order a predetermined number of vaccinations so that all staff members, hospital volunteers and hospitalized patients can receive a seasonal-flu shot. The hospital’s supply of vaccine is expected to arrive sometime in late September.
“Due to the unknown number of vaccinations that will be used, we don’t know at this point whether we will provide them to the public,” Kuhl said. Last November and December, the hospital held two vaccination clinics at its Wellness Depot in the Mall at Sierra Vista.
Curbing flu’s spread
In addition to keeping staff members and volunteers healthy through preventive measures, the hospital is tasked with keeping patients with the flu from contaminating others.
“As soon as a person with respiratory symptoms presents to the hospital, we separate them from other patients and staff to avoid the potential of spreading the flu,” Kuhl said. “We take very strict precautions when dealing with suspected flu patients.”
When treating patients with flu symptoms, the hospital takes such precautions as using gloves, masks and gowns. In addition, a special environmental services staff disinfects surfaces of the Emergency Department — such as counters, hand rails, door knobs, rest rooms and equipment — every two hours.
The hospital’s front-line staff members ask patients and visitors upon arrival if they have flu symptoms. All those who have flu symptoms are referred to special respiratory etiquette stations throughout the hospital. These stations are stocked with masks, tissues and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
“By providing our staff, visitors, patients and their family members with these tools, we feel we are committed to encouraging everyone to help keep themselves and their loved ones from getting sick,” Kuhl said.
MORE INFORMATION, PLUS GOOD NEWS ABOUT FLU TREATMENT
These locations are offering seasonal-flu shots. Note that this information pertains to seasonal-flu vaccinations only and not to H1N1 flu shots:
• Walgreens, 1950 E. Fry Blvd., is offering seasonal-flu shots every Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shots are on a walk-in basis and will require a prescription. Pharmacist Sam Bundu-Kamara says the prescription is required in Arizona when a pharmacist gives the vaccination, such as the case with Walgreens. Shots are $24.99 and are covered by Medicare Part B and by most health insurance plans. For information, call 458-5638.
• CVS Pharmacy, located at 2090 East Fry Boulevard, is offering seasonal-flu shots Sept. 21 and 28 and Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shots are given on a walk-in basis and no prescription is necessary. The shots are $30 and must be paid by cash or check.
• The Cochise County Health Department is offering adult flu shots for $25 on a first-come first-serve basis. Payment in the form of cash, check or money order is accepted at the time of service. Medicare Part B members and Tricare members are required to bring identification and membership cards.
The seasonal-flu shots are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at these sites:
The Sierra Vista office of the county health department, 4115 East Foothills Drive, is recommending that residents call ahead to check on flu vaccine availability. The number is 803-3900. Flu shots will be offered Oct. 2 and 3, depending on vaccine availability.
The Bisbee office of the county health department, 1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. A, is offering flu shots Friday and Saturday. For information, call 432-9400.
The Douglas office of the county health department, 515 Seventh St., is offering flu shots Sept. 25 and 25. For information, call 805-5600.
The Benson office of the county health department, 126 West Fifth St., is offering flu shots Sept. 26. For information, call 586-8200.
Children’s shots are free through the health department’s Vaccines For Children program and are available by appointment during normally scheduled weekly childhood immunization clinics. Visit the health department’s Web site at www.cochise.az.gov for childhood vaccination dates and times or call the health department at 432-9400.
Feds: Swine flu shots may start early October
The nation’s first round of swine flu shots could begin sooner than expected, with some vaccine available as early as the first week of October, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday.
Sebelius said she is confident the vaccine will be available early enough to beat the peak of the expected flu season this fall and that early doses are intended for health care workers and other high-priority groups.
“We’re on track to have an ample supply rolling by the middle of October. But we may have some early vaccine as early as the first full week in October. We’ll get the vaccine out the door as fast as it rolls off the production line,” she told ABC’s “This Week.”
Study: New drug fights flu as well as Tamiflu does
Researchers delivered a double dose of good news Sunday in the fight against flu: Successful tests of what could become the first new flu medicine in a decade, and the strongest evidence yet that such drugs save lives, not just shorten illness.
A single intravenous dose of an experimental drug, peramivir, cleared up flu symptoms as well as five days of Tamiflu pills did, a large study in Asia found. An IV treatment is needed because many sick people can’t swallow pills and there are other complications.
Health Department
Cochise County Health Department , 515 7th Street, Douglas, AZ. 85607; telephone: 805-5600. Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except holidays).
Immunizations
Monday, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m.
Third Tuesday of each month, 4 p.m.
*A limited amount of vaccination numbers will be given during each time slot on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pregnancy testing
Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Blood pressure checks
Thursday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Food Handlers Testing
Thursday and Friday 8-11; 1-4
Family Planning
Second and fourth Tuesday of every month, by appointment only
HIV/AIDS Testing
Available by appointment
Blood sugars are checked on the 3rd Thursday morning of each month and they are by appointment. Call if you have any questions.
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