BHSJ Celebrates National Influenza Vaccination Week – December 1-7, 2019

Monday December 2, 2019

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wants you to remember that the best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated every year, and it’s not too late!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began recognizing National Influenza Vaccination Week in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, and it can last as late as May.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency offers flu vaccines for the whole family. Qualifying families with children age 18 or younger can receive free vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. This program is for children who are not insured or whose insurance does not cover immunizations. Adults and children with insurance that does cover the vaccine can also receive their flu shot from the local health department and nearly always for no additional fee. To get your flu shot from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, please call your local office and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

• Branch County: Monday Immunization clinic – call 517-279-9561 ext. 100

• Hillsdale County: Wednesday Immunization clinic – call 517-437-7395 ext. 336

• St. Joseph County: Tuesday Immunization clinic in Three Rivers &

• Friday Immunization clinic in Sturgis – 269-273-2161 ext. 208