For Additional Headlines - go to our News Section »

• Beach Noise Ordinance Under Review
  made by red77
• Drowning Case Still Awaits Trial
  made by cajundude
• Drowning Case Still Awaits Trial
  made by JUSTICE for the Redmons... 2
• Drowning Case Still Awaits Trial
  made by JUSTICE for the Redmons... 2
• Drowning Case Still Awaits Trial
  made by heartbroken

• Fatal Accident Causes Power Outage
• Body Found in Sutton Lake
• Bay County Turns Hollywood
• Inflated Power Bills?
• Farmville Fascination
• Project Nemo Relocates; Mayor Reacts
• New Bay County Traffic Cameras go Live
• Mardi Gras Kicks off with Massalina Krewe
• Hathaway Bridge Car Accident
• Drowning Case Still Awaits Trial

People Ages 25-64 Encouraged to Get H1N1 Flu Vaccine
01/28/10 - 11:26 AM

Bay County Health Department

 RSS Feed

The Bay County Health Department is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against the H1N1 Flu.  People 25 through 64 years of age with certain prolonged or constant health conditions, or poor or compromised immune systems, are at higher risk of serious influenza-related complications and so it is especially important that they get vaccinated.  Although people with prolonged or constant medical conditions are at high risk of severe complications from influenza, including hospitalization and death, many people in these groups do not realize their medical conditions increase their risk.  Those high risk conditions include asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver disorders, neurological disorders, blood disorders, cancer, HIV or AIDS, and others.  The flu can make chronic health problems worse.  Here are a few facts:

The H1N1 flu has caused more deaths among adults aged 25-64 years old with prolonged or continuing medical conditions than in any other group. 
Approximately 90% of estimated hospitalizations and 88% of estimated deaths caused by H1N1 have occurred in people younger than 65 years old.
By the end of December 2009, 61 million U.S. residents had been vaccinated against H1N1 Flu, or 20.3% of the U.S. population.  Of that number, only 12% of adults 25-64 years of age with chronic or prolonged medical conditions are estimated to have been vaccinated against H1N1.

Now that there is an ample supply of vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health are encouraging any Floridian who wants to get vaccinated to contact their primary health care provider or local county health department.  The Department of Health recommends that everyone get vaccinated, even if they believe they have already contracted H1N1.  Unless a person has had a laboratory confirmed case of H1N1, they can not be certain they had H1N1. 

H1N1 Flu shots are available at the Bay County Health Department by appointment.  The shots are free and are given on Tuesdays between 8am and 12pm and on Thursdays between 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm.  Please call ext. 1296 to make an appointment.  Free H1N1 Flu shots will also be available at the Health Expo on February 10, 2010, at Edgewater Beach Resort between 10am and 6pm.

Fighting H1N1 Flu is a three-step approach:  1) get a vaccination, 2) practice everyday prevention (including frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick),  and 3) use antiviral drugs correctly if your health professional recommends them.