BHSJ CHA Offers Flu Vaccine

Tuesday October 1, 2019

It’s that time of the year again, and the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is encouraging all tri-county residents to protect themselves by getting flu shots.

Rebecca Burns, Health Officer for the tri-county health department states, “The early availability of the vaccine make it easy to protect yourself and your family.” Yvonne Atwood, Director of Personal Health and Disease Prevention adds, “We are encouraging everyone over the age of 6 months to get the flu shot, especially pregnant women and the elderly.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu vaccine for all individuals 6 months of age and older. If your child is 18 years or younger, uninsured, lacks immunization coverage as part of their health insurance policy or are covered by Healthy Michigan or some other form of Medicaid, he/she may be eligible to receive their shot free of charge through the Vaccines For Children Program. Call the health department to find out more and to schedule your appointment. People who should especially receive the flu vaccine, because they may be at higher risk for complications or negative consequences, include:

• Children age 6 months through 4 years;

• Pregnant women;

• People 50 years old or older;

• People age 6 months and older with chronic health problems;

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;

• Health care workers;

• Household contacts and caregivers of, or people who live with, a person at high risk for complications from the flu;

• Out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months old.

The timing and duration of each flu season varies, but can begin as early as September and last as late as May. Individuals who develop infection from the flu virus can have symptoms that include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and body aches.

The flu vaccine can be given any time during the flu season. It takes about two weeks for immunity to develop and offer protection against flu after receiving a vaccine. To make an appointment to receive your flu vaccine, call any of our offices and press #1 for clinic services including flu shots.