News Releases > Dec. 8-14 is National Influenza Vaccination Week - Parents, children are encouraged to get a flu shot

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (December 8, 2008) – The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health and Super Shot Inc. encourage parents to protect themselves and their children from the flu by getting vaccinated. Each year in the United States, on average:

• Five to 10 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu
• More than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to the flu and 20,000 of them are children younger than five years old
• 36,000 people die from the flu

The CDC now recommends annual flu shots for anyone who wants to reduce their risk, but especially healthcare professionals and those who are at high risk of complications if they get the flu, including young children, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with chronic medical conditions. And National Influenza Vaccination Week, Dec. 8-14, is an opportunity to remind people that flu shots are beneficial even if they are received in December and January.

Free flu vaccine for children is available at the Department of Health and Super Shot clinics:

• The vaccine is free of charge at the Department of Health’s Immunization Clinic on the fifth floor of the City-County Building, 1 E. Main St., while supplies last. The Department of Health is offering the traditional flu shot for infants and toddlers age 6 months to 18 months and an intranasal spray suitable for healthy children age 2 to 18. The clinic’s hours are Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Parents are asked to bring their child’s shot record; no appointment is necessary.

• Super Shot is offering flu vaccine suitable for children ages six months through 18 years and for children with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, free of charge at all Super Shot clinic locations. Parents are asked to bring the child’s shot record; no appointment is necessary. For a list of Super Shot locations and their hours of operation, call 424-7468 or visit www.phpni.com/supershot.htm.

Adults wanting a flu shot should check with their physician or visit one of the five RediMed urgent care clinics in northeast Indiana.

For more information on stopping the spread of the flu, visit www.fighttheflu.org.

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