Orange County Health Care Agencies Offer Free Flu Shots

Orange County is preparing to safeguard it's residents from the misery and side effects of the flu by offering free flu shots throughout the county, starting as soon as this coming Friday. The Orange County Health Care Agency is providing inoculations without a fee to the public at various locations on Friday and to others in a high risk category through December.

The seasonal flu shots clinics are underway at various locations around the county. The flu shots will be available to everyone on Friday including infants from six months of age and up, at walk up and drive through clinics that the clinic is setting up. The clinics will be made available in Aliso Viejo and Cypress as part of a emergency preparedness exercise.

October and November are the best times to receive the vaccine, as in most cases it takes the inoculation up to two weeks to become affective and to provide immunity. The flu season in Orange County often peaks near the end of December and the beginning of January, though the flu can cause illness through the early months of the year and into April.

Each year some 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with the flu and up to 36,000 people die from complications of the illness. Flu symptoms include fever, aches, pains, fatigue, weakness and headache.

The free flu shots are available from 11:00 a.m.-3p.m. at Soka University located at 1University Drive, Aliso Veijo. It is recommended that you enter off of Wood Canyon Drive. The other location for the free shots on Friday are at Cypress College at 9200 Vallie View St. in Cypress. You are asked to use the Holder Street
entrance at Lakeshore Drive for the walk-up clinic and the Orange Ave. entrance for the drive up clinic. The county is hoping to provide more than 5,000 free shots during this emergency exercise.

Dr. Eric Handler, County Health Officer said, "Receiving a flu shot is an effective measure in preventing the flu". Experts also encourage hand washing as one of the best methods to avoid transmitting the flu to others.

People in high risk groups are especially vulnerable to the flu and it's complications. It is very important to receive your flu shot if you are any one of these people.

Age 50 and older.
Someone with chronic diseases of the heart or lungs, such as asthma, C.P.O.D., or have any form of heart condition.
A suppressed immune system such as H.I.V. or A.I.D.S. or undergoing any kinds of cancer treatment or steroid therapy.
Health Care Workers or Teachers.
Women who are currently pregnant.
Children six months of age to five years of age.
Anyone living with or caring for anyone who might have a higher risk or complications from the flu.

More information can be obtained on times and dates for high risk residents to obtain free flu vaccines by calling the Health Care Agency's Referral Line at 1-800-564-8448. You may also go to the American Lung Association's Web site at www.flucliniclocator.org for assistance in finding where flu shots are available.

There are many pharmacies and medical clinics which also are making flu vaccines available at certain times or dates. Contact your local pharmacy or clinic for details and to see if an appointment is needed.

It is also recommended that if you suspect that you may have the flu, stay at home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. If you have difficulty with breathing or experience chest pain, contact your physician at once.

Sources used in this article are as follows: www.ochealthinfo.comwww.flucliniclocator.orghttp://www.ochealthinfo.com/public/flu/index.htm