THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410070281
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
The flu season is upon us. Time to get your shot.
From the the end of October until about the end of March that pesky and sometimes deadly influenza virus threatens to sicken the population of Chesapeake and the rest of Hampton Roads.
Dr. Nancy Welch, director of the Chesapeake Health Department, recommends all Chesapeake citizens get their flu shots, especially the young and the elderly.
To make it easy for all city residents to get their shots, special flu vaccination clinics will be set up at various sections of the city beginning Oct. 12 and ending Nov. 2.
Even if you got a shot last year, it won't do you any good during the 1994-'95 flu season. You need another, Welch said. You see, influenza is caused by a virus, not bacteria, and that's a big difference, she explained.
Bacteria keep the same form year after year. So when one gets a shot or vaccination for a bacteria caused disease it lasts for a long time, enabling the body's defenses and anti-bodies to always ``recognize'' it and fight it.
But the virus, the clever little microscopic organism, changes its form, shape and dimension from one season to another. So if one got a flu vaccination last year, it will be no good this season since the virus returns in a different guise, fooling the body's defenses.
Flu symptoms include fever, muscle aches and pains and respiratory problems.
This year's vaccinations will be able to fight off the three flu strains looming on the horizon, each named for its place of origin: Texas, Shangdong (China) and Panama.
The Texas and Shangdong are classified as type ``A'' viruses, those associated with large outbreaks and epidemics, like last year's Beijing flu. The Panama is considered a type ``B'' strain, one usually related to isolated cases.
But whatever the strain or point of origin, Welch recommends everybody get flu shots.
``Children should get shots since they are the most susceptible,'' she said. ``But they get less complications from flu then elderly people and others at risk.
Welch targets ``at risk'' people as those with heart and lung problems and people of any age with long-term chronic problems of cystic fibrosis, anemia, diabetes, severe asthma, kidney disease or immunologic disorders such as AIDS.
She said many times kids with flu seem to only have a strong cold and if undetected could spread the strain to parents and older members of the family.
Flu has the potential to be especially harmful and occasionally deadly to those over 65. Welch also recommends shots for healthy people who work closely with children and the elderly at nursing facilities, old age homes, senior citizens clubs and organizations, day care centers, schools, doctor's offices, health clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers.
``Many times a healthy person may not have the flu symptoms but may be carriers of the strain and can pass it on to others,'' she said.
Welch said many fear flu shots because they believe it will give them a mild form of the disease. Not so.
``The flu vaccine uses killed virus, not a live ones, and one cannot get the disease from a shot,'' she said. ``If someone gets the flu after receiving a shot it's usually just coincidental timing.''
She explained that flu shots use what is known as active vaccines, those that do not provide immediate protection but rather allow the body to recognize the injected dead virus and enable it to produce its own antibodies to fight off the disease.
``That usually takes a few weeks to develop,'' Welch said. ``That's why we're urging people to get their shots during our clinics so they can build up the immunization in time for the flu season.'' ILLUSTRATION: FLU CLINICS
Here are the dates and times of the flu vaccination clinics
sponsored by the Chesapeake Health Department.
Oct. 12 - South Norfolk Community Center, 1218 Godwin Ave.
Oct. 19 - River Crest Community Center, 1001 River Walk Parkway.
Oct. 20 - Great Bridge Community Center, 212 Holt Drive.
Oct. 25 - Deep Creek Community Center, 2901 Margaret Booker
Drive.
Oct. 26 - Indian River Community Center, 2250 Old Greenbrier
Road.
Nov. 2 - Western Branch Community Center, 4437 Portsmouth Blvd.
The time for all of the clinics is 9:30 a.m.-noon.
If you can't make it to any of the above clinics, the health
department will administer shots at its main Great Bridge office on
North Battlefield Boulevard, behind Chesapeake General Hospital
(547-9213); South Norfolk Clinic, 1204 20th St. (543-3720); and
Adult Clinic/Campostella office, 2709 Campostella Road in the
Campostella Plaza (545-4463). Call ahead to arrange an
appointment.
The fee for the shots is $10. Medicare will pay for the
vaccinations.
by CNB