Beginning Tuesday flu vaccinations will be available for those at highest risk from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the health department just north of Sequoyah Memorial Hospital.
Linda Hattaway, health department administrator, said the following are considered persons at high risk:
-Persons age 50 and older, with or without chronic health conditions
-Residents of long-term care facilities
-Persons age 2 to 49 years of age with chronic health conditions
-Children age six months to 23 months
-Pregnant women
-Health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
-Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children six months or younger
All others not considered high risk but who wish to reduce their chances of getting influenza may line up for the flu shots at the health department from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, 30 and 31.
"At the current time we anticipate having enough flu vaccine this year," Hattaway added.
Sequoyah County commissioners were told at their meeting Monday that the health department had only received about 20 percent of the influenza vaccine needed so far, but the health department is expected to receive more vaccine through the late fall and winter months.
Hattaway said those age 65 and over and those with chronic health conditions should ask their doctor if they should be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia, which is a common and potentially serious complication of the flu.
Oklahoma's flu season usually occurs from October through May. Hattaway said this year more than 330,000 doses of adult and child vaccine were ordered by the state department of health to be distributed to county health departments and public healthcare providers. State health officials believe vaccine supplies will be sufficient to meet this year's demand for flu shots.
For more information call (918) 775-6201.
