Mark A. McDonnell, RS, MS, Health Commissioner

Robert P. Dillaplain, MD, Medical Director

News Release

For Immediate Release                     Contact: Sara T. Pappa, Public Information Officer

November 22, 2006                     937-374-5662/866-858-3588

Greene County Combined Health District Announces

National Influenza Vaccination Week

(XENIA, OH)  The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) has announced that it will participate in National Influenza Vaccination Week, November 27 – December 3, 2006. 

Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population becomes infected with influenza virus. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from influenza complications and about 36,000 people die from influenza. Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its severe complications. Anyone who wants to reduce their risk for getting influenza should be vaccinated during each influenza season. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for the following groups:

§         Persons at high risk for influenza-related complications and severe disease, including:
- children aged 6--59 months
- pregnant women
- persons aged 50 years and older and
- persons of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.

§         Persons who live with or care for persons at high risk, including:
- household members in frequent contact with persons at high risk and who can transmit influenza to those persons at high risk, and
- health-care workers.

Although vaccination programs focus on providing vaccination before or early in the influenza season, influenza vaccination should continue throughout the fall and winter months since influenza activity can circulate anytime from November through April.

GCCHD will offer the flu vaccination to all Greene County residents at the Health District:

            Every Tuesday                       8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

            Thursday, November 30^th      12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

            Thursday, December 14^th      4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

(continued)

The cost per flu shot is $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for children.  Cash and checks will be accepted.   Medicaid and Medicare Part B are the only insurances accepted; card must be shown.

For more information, please call Carolyn Blair at (937) 374-5636.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 1-866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675

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