Flu Shots Are Now Available at CHWS!

Flu shots are now available at CHWS!

Information from: Medical News Today- http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15107.php CDC (Key Facts about Flu)- http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

For more information about influenza or the vaccine, visit CHWS or go to the CDC’s website on seasonal influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm What is the Flu? Influenza, commonly shortened to "flu," is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses. Flu appears most frequently in winter and early spring. The flu virus attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract. Adults are contagious one day before getting symptoms and up to 7 days after becoming ill. Where Can I Get a Flu Shot?

 Flu shots are available at CHWS right now by appointment.

The cost is $21. The shot covers both seasonal flu strains

and H1N1

 Other Tacoma locations where flu shots are available are:

Safeway (Proctor), Target (South 23rd), Walgreens (6th

Ave), Costco (South 37th), and Fred Meyer (South 19th) The Centers for Disease Control urges the following at-risk groups to be immunized:

 People age 50 and over

 Residents of nursing homes or other chronic-care facilities

 Adults and children who have chronic lung or heart problems, including children

with asthma

 Adults and children who have chronic metabolic diseases (such as diabetes

mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression (such as

 Children and teens who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy (who have the

potential to develop Reye's Syndrome after the flu)

 Women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season You should also think seriously about getting a flu shot if:

 You live in an institutional setting, such as college students

and members of the armed services

 You are in contact with at-risk people. This includes health

care providers, employees of nursing homes and chronic-

care facilities, home-care providers, emergency-response

people, and household members What are the symptoms of flu?

It is common to confuse flu with a bad cold. Flu and cold symptoms may include a runny/blocked nose, sore throat, and cough. Here are some symptoms which a person with flu will have. These are not common heavy cold symptoms:

 High temperature

 Cold sweats, shivers

 Headache

 Aching joints, aching limbs

 Fatigue, feeling utterly exhausted

 Gastro-intestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are much more common among children than adults