Town of Greenwich Offers Flu Vaccine Clinics

From Greenwich Health Dept.: Influenza (commonly called “flu”) is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. These viruses are spread when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes or touches a surface handled by others. It can be mild or severe and infects millions of Americans every year. Last year, flu related hospitalizations mirrored the 2014-15 season with a CDC estimated high of over 700,000 cases. The best way to prevent getting the flu is to get vaccinated. It takes up to two weeks after vaccination for protection (immunity) to develop in the majority of adults. To ensure proper protection from the seasonal flu virus, which can begin to circulate early in the fall, the Department of Health has scheduled immunization clinics throughout the month of October. Persons 9 years and older will be eligible to receive influenza vaccine at Department clinics. The Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, made especially for people 65 years of age and older, will be offered at clinics. Clinical trials indicate that the Fluzone High Dose vaccine helps strengthen the body’s immune response in older people.

Each year the seasonal influenza vaccine contains three or four influenza virus strains. In 2018-19, the influenza seasonal vaccine will contain one Influenza A-like (H3N2) virus, one Influenza A-like (H1N1) virus and either one or two Influenza B-like virus. The viruses in the flu shot are inactivated (not live), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur include: low grade fever, soreness and aches. Influenza can affect anyone; however, those 65 years of age and older have a higher risk for complications from influenza. Usually people experience a rapid onset of high fever (although not all individuals exhibit fever), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, chills, headache, fatigue and body aches.

Director of Health, Caroline C. Baisley, emphasized, “getting vaccinated every year is the best way to provide protection against circulating influenza viruses. The traditional flu season begins early October and runs through May in most years and sustained influenza transmission is usually not seen before January or later. The Department of Health is committed to working with medical providers in an effort to provide influenza vaccine in the community, especially to those at increased risk for severe complications from influenza.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all persons 6 months of age and older should be immunized; however, it is especially important for the following groups to receive flu vaccine:

 All children aged 6 months through 59 months; all persons aged 50 years and older, especially adults over 65
 Persons 6 months of age and older with underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease (except isolated hypertension), diabetes, neurological, hepatic or renal disorders and immunosuppression, that require frequent or ongoing medical management.
 Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season
 Household contacts, including children, of persons at high risk due to medical conditions and/or infants under six months of age
 Healthcare workers and residentsin long term care facilities.
 Persons who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40)

Note: Seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended for all persons aged 6 months of age and older, however, immunizations will not be administered to individuals under 9 years of age at the Department clinics. Parents are advised to contact their pediatricians for an appointment and dose requirements for children six months to eight years of age. For additional information about how to obtain a flu vaccination from the Department of Health for children under age 8 years, please contact the Division of Family Health at (203) 622-7861 or (203) 622-6495.

During the influenza season, the public is encouraged to call the Department of Health flu information
hotline for up-to-date information at (203) 622-3774, or visit the Department’s website main page at
www.greenwichct.org.

Participants between the ages of 9 years to 64 years will be charged $35.00 for the seasonal immunization.
Participants 65 years of age or older must bring their Medicare Advantage ID Card/Traditional Medicare Part B Card or a fee of $35.00 (Seasonal); $55.00 (High Dose); $100.00 (Pneumovax 23); $195.00 (Prevnar 13) will be charged for the immunizations. Influenza and pneumonia vaccinations are also covered by United Health Care/Oxford Plan.

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