THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610040230
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 47 lines
With cooler weather comes the start of flu season.
With that in mind, Dr. Nancy Welch, director of the Chesapeake Health Department, has urged Chesapeake citizens to get their flu shots at one of several clinics scheduled from Oct. 10 to Nov. 12. Welch particularly urges the young and elderly to get the vaccine.
Even those who were vaccinated last year should get another shot, Welch said. Influenza is caused by a virus, which changes from season to season.
Flu symptoms include fever, muscle aches and respiratory problems.
Influenza is particularly dangerous to persons over 65.
Persons with heart and lung conditions and those with chronic problems with cystic fibrosis, anemia, diabetes, severe asthma, kidney disease or immunologic disorders such as AIDS are especially susceptible to the disease.
The Health Department also recommends shots for healthy people who work closely with children or the elderly at nursing homes, clinics, day care centers, schools, doctor's offices, hospitals or emergency care centers. Care providers who do not get shots may not develop symptoms themselves but risk passing the virus on to others in their care.
It usually takes about two weeks for the body to build up protection against the disease. That's why the health department urges citizens to get shots now so they will be protected when the flu virus eventually flies into town.
The dates and times of flu vaccination clinics sponsored by the Chesapeake Health Department are as follows:
Oct. 10 - Great Bridge Community Center, 212 Holt Drive.
Oct. 16 - Indian River Community Center, 2250 Old Greenbrier Road.
Oct. 22 - Deep Creek Community Center, 2901 Margaret Booker Drive.
Oct. 30 - Western Branch Community Center, 4437 Portsmouth Blvd.
Nov. 7 - South Norfolk Community Center, 1217 Godwin Ave.
Nov. 12 - River Crest Community Center, 1001 River Walk Parkway.
Times for all the clinics, except the Great Bridge site, are from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The Great Bridge clinic will offer shots from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In addition, vaccinations will be offered at the health department's main office on North Battlefield Boulevard and the South Norfolk clinic at 1204 20th St. Appointments are required.
The fee for flu shots is $10 and $17 for pneumonia immunizations. Medicare will pay for the vaccinations.
More information about the shots, clinics, flu season or other health-related matters is available by calling 382-8644. by CNB