SHAMOKIN - VNA Health System kicked off its annual flu immunization effort by holding educational programs at many local senior centers and elderly housing units.
Tara Venna, registered nurse, visited tenants at Coal Township Elderly Housing on the importance of receiving their annual influenza vaccine and also provided current information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on this year's flu season.
"We will be conducting more than 300 flu clinics throughout our service area," beginning Monday and continuing through December "until everyone who needs immunization receives their shot," she said.
The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. This fall, CDC recommends a flu vaccine for everyone six months or older.
'Trivalent vaccine'
The 2011-12 seasonal flu vaccine is a trivalent vaccine (a three-component vaccine), with each component selected to protect against one of the three main groups of influenza viruses circulating in humans. This year's vaccine will protect against the H1N1 virus, H3N1 virus and influenza B virus. These are the same viruses that were selected for the for the 2010-11 influenza vaccine.
This vaccine will only protect against these three viruses identified by the World Health Organization/CDC as likely to be prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere for this coming flu season. Those who received a flu injection last year need the vaccine again this year as it is unknown how long immunity lasts.
H1N1 still around
Individuals who had the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, or had H1N1 flu in 2009 or 2010, should still get the 2011-12 seasonal influenza vaccine. The CDC expects the H1N1 virus to cause illness again this upcoming season along with other seasonal flu viruses. Because there is no longer a pandemic, it does not mean that the virus won't continue to circulate.
"It takes about two weeks to achieve some level of immunity after receiving the vaccine" Venna said. "The flu is contagious one to four days before symptoms appear and up to five days after symptoms develop. We continue to remind members of our community to frequently wash their hands and limit contact with others while sick to prevent individuals from becoming infected."
Also, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it, she said. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care.
A recent study by the U.S. Department of Health found that employees who are vaccinated report 43 percent fewer sick days and 44 percent fewer clinic visits than those employees not vaccinated. Listed below are the flu clinics scheduled next week. Additional clinic in September, October and November will be listed in the Community Calendar section of The News-Item. For more information, call 648-8989.
VNA Health System will vaccinate individuals 18 years of age and over and anyone who is not pregnant.
Monday
9 a.m. to noon: Mount Carmel Senior Center, 41 S. Market St./
1 to 2 p.m.: Roosevelt Court, 1100 Spruce St., Kulpmont.
Tuesday
9 a.m. to noon: Trevorton Senior Action Center, 750 W. Shamokin St.
Thursday
1 to 3 p.m.: Coal Township Elderly Housing, 101 N Ash St, Coal Township.
Friday
9 a.m. to noon: Sunbury Senior Center, 601 Pennsylvania Ave.
Saturday, Sept. 24
9 to 11 a.m.: Susquehanna Bank, Walnut and Second streets, Shamokin.