Published: September 30, 2008 12:00 am            

County schedules October flu shot clinics

The Cleveland County Health Department announced today its influenza vaccination clinic schedule for the upcoming flu season. Oklahoma's flu season usually occurs from October through May.

This year more than 375,000 doses of adult and child vaccine were ordered by the Oklahoma State Department of Health to be distributed to county health departments and public health care providers statewide. State health officials believe supplies of vaccine will be sufficient to meet this year's demand for the flu shot.

The Cleveland County Health Department will schedule clinics for those at highest risk of complications from influenza. Clinic days and times are as follows:

· Oct. 22 -- Noble Senior Citizen Center, 606 Maguire Rd., 8 to 11 a.m.; Little Axe Community Center, 1000 168th Ave. N.E., 12:30 to 4 p.m.

· Oct. 28 -- Moore Brand Senior Citizen Center, 501 E. Main St., 8 a.m. to noon

· Oct. 29 -- Norman Rose Rock Villa, 700 N. Berry Rd., 8 to 11 a.m.

Persons at high risk of complications from influenza who should receive their flu shot include people 50 and older, with and without chronic health conditions; residents of long-term care facilities; people 2 to 49 with chronic health conditions; pregnant women; health-care personnel who provide direct patient care; and household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children 6 months or younger

The Cleveland County Health Department, along with the Centers for Disease Control, is for the first time urging all children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years be vaccinated. For all persons both high risk and not considered high risk who wish to reduce their chances of getting influenza, the Cleveland County Health Department will offer flu shots on the following clinic dates and times:

· Oct. 23 -- First Baptist Church Conference Center in Moore, 301 NE 27th, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

· Oct. 24 -- Norman Health Department, 250 12th Ave. N.E., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People also can come to the Norman or Moore health departments on the following dates to receive flu vaccines.

· Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

· Nov. 14, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

· Nov. 21, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"We usually don't see our first laboratory-confirmed case of influenza until late November or early December," said Cleveland County Health Department Administrator Shari Kinney. "We hope our Cleveland County residents will use every opportunity to get vaccinated throughout the fall and winter months.

"At the current time, we anticipate having enough flu vaccine this year," Kinney said.

People 65 and older 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. Unlike the influenza vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine does not need to be given every year. This vaccine is available at physicians' offices and the Cleveland County Health Department.

For more information about flu clinics, call the Cleveland County Health Department's Norman office at 321-4048 or the Moore office at 794-1591.

        

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