Delco Hosting Flu Clinic In Drexel Hill Friday

As flu season creeps up on us, officials in Delaware County want residents to have the best protection against the illness and are offering flu clinics to do so. And one is being held Friday Oct. 13 in Drexel hill.

Residents can stop by Pilgrim Gardens in Drexel Hill from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the flu clinic.

Additionally, Pilgrim Gardens Senior Center, located at 1074 Pontiac Road in Drexel Hill, will host flu clinics for their seniors. Interested seniors should call the Senior Center to ask about insurance and requirements to register.

Pilgrim Gardens is located at 5035 Township Line Road, Drexel Hill.

"As we say every year, the best way to prevent getting the flu, or spreading it to your co-workers and family members, is to get immunized," County Councilman Dave White said. "You can see from all of the signs at local pharmacies and clinics that flu vaccinations are now available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people get the flu vaccination in October."

Delaware County’s Flu Awareness Campaign aims to make it as convenient as possible for people to learn how to prevent the flu.

• Awareness: Influenza information and recommendations are posted on the county website here. Information includes a fact sheet about the flu, the types of vaccinations, CDC recommendations, flu symptoms and treatment.
• Flu clinic information: The Department of Intercommunity Health makes available a calendar of flu clinics offered throughout the county also on the website. The clinics are listed by date and community.
• Walk-in clinics Oct. 13, Oct. 20 & Nov. 3: All residents, ages 3 and older, who have not received a flu shot this season, are invited to attend the clinics, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free walk-in flu clinics will be staffed by medical professionals and workers from the County Department of Intercommunity Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Delaware County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and Delaware County Community College School of Nursing. Nonperishable food items will be collected for the County’s annual food drive collection.
• Senior Citizens: Senior citizens are among the groups hardest hit by the flu. Several Senior Centers in Delaware County will hold flu clinics for their members. Interested seniors should call the Senior Center to ask about insurance and requirements to register.

The Senior Citizen events are as follows:

• Pilgrim Gardens Senior Center, 1074 Pontiac Road, Drexel Hill, PA 19026 – Friday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Haverford Area YMCA, 891 N Eagle Road, Havertown, PA 19083 – Friday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tinicum Fire Station Drive-Thru Clinic, 99 Wanamaker Ave., Essington, PA 19029 – Friday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The intensity and severity of flu seasons are difficult to predict. The effectiveness of the vaccine is dependent upon many variables. It is predicted that this year’s vaccine will be effective and well matched to the circulating strains.

Currently, Australia is in the midst of one of its worst flu outbreaks on record. The bad news is that our flu season follows suit with the flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere which precedes us. The good news is that our vaccines seem a good match for the circulating flu viruses. Also new this year, the CDC recommends only the injection and not the nasal spray.

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