Denton County Flu Vaccinations

Don’t Let the Flu Season Get You Down.
9/21/2009 – Flu vaccination is one of the most important ways to help prevent the flu. The Denton County Health Department will provide residents the opportunity to receive their flu vaccinations this year during two community flu clinics. As in previous years, DCHD will hold flu clinics in Denton and in Lewisville. The clinic dates and locations are:
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• September 25, 2009, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Lewisville Civic and Recreation Center.
• September 30, 2009, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex in Denton.

Flu shots will be available for the general public, but DCHD especially encourages those at high risk of complications from the flu to receive a flu vaccination. Those individuals that are considered high risk include:
• Children 6 months – 18 years of age
• Adults over the age of 50
• Persons of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• Persons living in nursing homes or other long term care facilities
• Pregnant women
• Persons living with or caring for high risk individuals

The cost of the flu shots is $20 and only cash will be accepted. Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP will also be accepted as payment.

Vaccinations are the most effective preventive measure, but here are some other steps you and your family can take to stay healthy this fall and winter:
• The simplest way to stop the spread of the flu and many other diseases is to wash your hands often, with soap and water. Wash for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Rub sanitizer in your hands until they are dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can live for a long time, some for 2 hours or more, on surfaces like door knobs, desks, and tables.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs cause illnesses like the flu. The flu usually spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes and the droplets from the cough or sneeze move through the air and get on the mouth and nose of people nearby. Always cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away to prevent the spread of the droplets. If you don’t have a tissue, cover your cough or sneeze into the crease of your elbow. If you cough or sneeze into your hand, make sure to wash them immediately.
• If you feel ill, stay home from work and keep sick kids home from school or daycare. Contact your health care provider for specific treatment.

Denton County Health Department is also gearing up to distribute H1N1 Influenza Vaccine. Denton County Health Department expects to receive H1N1 flu vaccine in mid-October and begin distributing the vaccine to the community shortly after. Please check the Denton County Health Department’s Flu Hotline at 940-349-2584 and the Denton County Health Department website at www.dentoncounty.com/health for the most up to date information.