Flu season is almost here, and flu shots are now available to at-risk patients, including people 65 years or older, infants 6 to 23-months-old, and people with a chronic medical condition. Here are some of the locations offering the shots:

El Paso County Health Department
301 S. Union Blvd.
Colorado Springs

Beginning Tuesday, October 15th
$20 per dose

Walk in hours:

Monday & Friday: 8:30am-12:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 8:30am-4:00pm

Appointment hours:

Monday & Friday: 12:30-4:00pm
Tuesday: 8:30am-12:00pm

To make an appointment, call 578-3272.

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Penrose-St. Francis
Community Flu Shot Clinics

Cost: $17.00 or Free for those with Medicare Part B or Secure Horizons

Dates, Times, and Locations:

*Sat. Oct. 12 - 6-8:30pm - Woodmen Valley Chapel, 477 Woodmen Rd.
*Sun., Oct. 13 - 7:30am-12:30pm - First Presbyterian Church, 219 E. Bijou
*Sun., Oct. 13 - 10am-1pm - Woodmen Valley Chapel
*Mon., Oct. 14 - 5-7:30pm - Penrose Community Hospital, 3205 N. Academy
*Tue., Oct. 15 - 4-7pm - Penrose Community Hosptial
*Wed., Oct. 16 - 4-8pm - First Presbyterian Church
*Thu., Oct. 17 - 4:30-6:30pm - Penrose Health Learning Center, 1644 Medical Ctr Pt.
*Oct. 19, 20, 26; Nov 9, 10 - 1-4pm - Foley's/Chapel Hills Mall
*Oct. 19, 20, 26; Nov 9, 10 - 1-4pm - Foley's/Citadel Mall
*Sun., Oct. 27 - 9am-12:30pm - First United Methodist Church, 420 N. Nevada

For more information, call 776-5716.

kktv.com Extended Web Coverage

Influenza Vaccine

• Much of the illness and death caused by influenza can be prevented by annual influenza vaccination.

• Influenza vaccine is specifically recommended for people who are at high risk for developing serious complications as a result of influenza infection.

• These high-risk groups are:
  
  • All people age 65 and older.
    
  • People of any age with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs or kidneys, diabetes, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia.
    
  • Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities housing patients of any age.
    
  • Women who will be more then three months pregnant during influenza season.
    
  • Children and teenagers who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who may therefore be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after an influenza virus infection.

• Overall vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year, depending upon the degree of similarity between the influenza virus strains included in the vaccine and the strain or strains that circulate during the influenza season.

• Influenza vaccine produced in the United States cannot cause influenza.

• The only type of influenza vaccine that has been licensed in the United States is made from killed influenza viruses, which cannot cause infection.

When to receive the influenza vaccine

• In the United States, influenza usually occurs from about November until April, with activity peaking between late December and early March.

• The optimal time for vaccination of persons at high risk for influenza-related medical complications is during October through November.

• It takes about 1 to 2 weeks after vaccination for antibody against influenza to develop and provide protection.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvac.htm ( The Center for Disease Control Vaccine Information Web site)

Extended Web Coverage

Influenza Vaccine

• Much of the illness and death caused by influenza can be prevented by annual influenza vaccination.

• Influenza vaccine is specifically recommended for people who are at high risk for developing serious complications as a result of influenza infection.

• These high-risk groups are:
  
  • All people age 65 and older.
    
  • People of any age with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs or kidneys, diabetes, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia.
    
  • Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities housing patients of any age.
    
  • Women who will be more then three months pregnant during influenza season.
    
  • Children and teenagers who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who may therefore be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after an influenza virus infection.

• Overall vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year, depending upon the degree of similarity between the influenza virus strains included in the vaccine and the strain or strains that circulate during the influenza season.

• Influenza vaccine produced in the United States cannot cause influenza.

• The only type of influenza vaccine that has been licensed in the United States is made from killed influenza viruses, which cannot cause infection.

When to receive the influenza vaccine

• In the United States, influenza usually occurs from about November until April, with activity peaking between late December and early March.

• The optimal time for vaccination of persons at high risk for influenza-related medical complications is during October through November.

• It takes about 1 to 2 weeks after vaccination for antibody against influenza to develop and provide protection.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvac.htm ( The Center for Disease Control Vaccine Information Web site)