Durham, Middlefield MDA Flu Clinics Will Not Be Held, Health Dept. Says

Post from Residents of the Town of Durham, CT:

The Durham Health Department is advising residents to obtain a flu vaccine during the month of September or October. Some residents have become accustomed to flu clinics sponsored by Mass Dispensing Area 36, comprised of Middletown, Cromwell, Middlefield and Durham.

However, funding for the clinics has been depleted and the MDA 36 clinics will not be held. Therefore, residents are urged to seek vaccinations at their primary health care providers, walk-in clinics, pharmacies including Rite-Aid, Walgreens and CVS and those within food markets or Wal-Mart. Some employers and college based health centers may offer influenza vaccinations, also.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. Children between 6 months and 8 years may need two doses to be fully protected from the flu. Children younger than 6 months are at higher risk of serious flu complications, but are too young to get a flu vaccine. Safeguarding the infants from the flu is very important. Therefore, if you live with or care for a child less than 6months old, you should obtain a flu vaccine to help protect them from the flu. In addition to getting vaccinated, everyone should take preventative actions such as staying away from sick people and washing your hands often to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with the flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading the flu to others.

According to the CDC, various manufacturers have produced trivalent (three component) influenza vaccines for the United States, including intramuscular, intradermal, and nasal spray vaccines. Some seasonal flu vaccines have been comprised to protect against four (quadrivalent) flu viruses. Roughly half of the doses that have been produced are quadrivalent. Flu vaccines are formulated to protect against the most common flu viruses that have been circulating. These are influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B viruses. All of the 2014-2015 flu vaccine has been formulated to protect against the following viruses:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
• A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus

The quadrivalent vaccine will protect against an additional B virus, the B/Brisbane/06/2008-like virus. It is possible get sick from the flu despite being vaccinated if you were exposed shortly before receiving the vaccine or you were exposed to a virus not contained in the vaccine.

Also, some older people and people with chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after vaccination. Flu vaccination is still the best way to protect oneself against seasonal influenza.If you come down with the flu, there are medications that can lessen the severity of the illness.

They are antiviral drugs that can prevent serious complications like pneumonia. Please immediately contact your health care provider concerning the administering of the antiviral if you suspect having the flu.

The Durham Health Department can be reached at 860-349-8253.

(image via shutterstock)