State urges public to start seeking flu shots, local clinics have good supply ready for use
By BRENDA SOMMER news1@leader-news.com

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE: Mid Coast Medical Clinic and South Texas Medical Center both report having a good supply of the flu shot available for area residents.

State health officials are urging Texans to get their flu shots, and El Campo medical facilities are ready to begin the annual preventive process.

Texas Department of State Health Services officials encourage everyone 6 months and older to receive a flu shot as soon as the vaccine is available. A record 132 million doses of vaccine are expected to be available in the United States this flu season.

"Flu is more than just a bad cold that makes people feel uncomfortable," said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS commissioner. 

 "This viral infection can lead to a serious, sometimes deadly illness.  An annual flu shot is one of the best ways to protect people from flu and its complications and to reduce the spread of the virus."

Steve Gularte, who heads El Campo Memorial Hospital, said Mid Coast Medical Clinic is ready to give flu shots to all comers.

"There's no delay this year," Gularte said. "We've received all the vaccines and are happy to have them here. We are ready for the patients."

The clinic is giving the shots on two easy walk-in Saturdays: Oct. 13 and Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon on both days.

For patients age 13 or older, no appointment is needed for flu shots, which cost $20. Patients younger than 13 need to schedule a regular appointment to get the shot, and can do so by calling 543-5510. Medicare patients should bring their Medicare card if they want the fee reimbursed.

South Texas Medical Clinic is having flu shot clinics Oct. 17, 18 and 25 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., said Jo Cain, physician assistant.

"What we do is we literally set up a table and folks just come in. We give them their flu shots," Cain said. "But we do like folks to call in first and get on the list, to help us be prepared."

The cost of the shot is $25 and the clinic's phone number is 543-2956.

"There's more than 35,000 deaths in this country per year from flu - that's a lot of people," Cain said. "You don't want to get the shot too early because the vaccine is really at its peak for 90-120 days. If you get them too early, the vaccine begins to run out before flu season is really peaking, which is in December, January and February."

Patients of either clinic may also call their regular doctor if they can't come to the scheduled clinics.

The state health department said those at increased risk of severe flu complications should get their flu shot as early as possible. These groups include children ages 6 months through 4 years, people with chronic medical conditions, residents of long-term care facilities and pregnant women.

Early immunizations also are encouraged for those 50 and older, for people who live with or care for those at increased risk of flu complications and for those who come in close contact with children younger than 6 months.

Flu season typically runs October through March, usually reaching its peak in Texas in January and February. People can get a flu shot anytime throughout the fall and winter. The shot takes about two weeks to become effective.

Flu symptoms include a sudden, often high fever; headache; extreme tiredness; dry cough; sore throat; runny or stuffy nose; and muscle aches. The illness is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, releasing the contagious virus into the air. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.

Because flu viruses change, a new vaccine is produced each year. Flu shots do not contain live viruses and cannot cause the flu. A nasal-spray flu vaccine, which contains live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu, is an option for healthy people ages 2 years to 49 years who are not pregnant.

FLU FACTS: The flu season in Texas generally runs from October through March, peaking in January and February. Flu is a viral respiratory illness. Symptoms, according to state health officials, include a sudden, often high, fever; headache; extreme tiredness; dry cough; sore throat; runny or stuffy nose; and muscle aches.