Health
State announces another round of flu shots
By SUSSEX COUNTY ONLINE
Dec 9, 2004, 14:01

Delaware’s Division of Public Health (DPH) will hold its third round of adult influenza vaccination clinics Tuesday, Dec. 14, for people in the groups at high-risk for flu complications. Up to 7,000 Delawareans can receive a flu vaccination at eight clinics statewide.

Adult Delawareans statewide who are interested in receiving a flu vaccination who meet DPH’s eligibility requirements are invited to call DPH at 1-800-282-8672 on Friday, Dec. 10 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. DPH will schedule appointments on a first-come, first-served basis. Callers will be directed to statewide clinics closest to their residence.

To schedule an appointment, callers must live or go to school in Delaware. Callers must also meet one of these criteria:

• Age 65 years and older.
• Age 9 - 64 years with underlying chronic health conditions.
• Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season, which is October 2004 - February 2005.
• Age 9-18 years who are on chronic aspirin therapy.

Individuals from all three counties can schedule appointments by calling 1-800-282-8672. Callers should have pen and paper at hand to write down their appointment time and clinic location. Callers will be asked if they live or go to school in Delaware, which risk criteria they meet, name, and contact information. Depending on volume, callers may get a busy signal but should keep trying.  

When attending the clinic, individuals must bring identification, proof that they live or attend school in Delaware, and their Medicare card, if applicable.

Please do not call the flu clinic site for information. If you need directions, call the Delaware Helpline at 1-800-464-HELP (4357). 

• DPH recommends that people in the high-risk categories take the following steps: Watch the news for information about DPH clinics and how to make an appointment.
• Do not call or go to a hospital for a flu vaccination. Hospitals are using their vaccine for their sickest patients and to assure that they have a healthy staff to provide care.
• Call your private physician to find out the likelihood and timing of receiving vaccine.
• Veterans must be enrolled with the Veterans Administration to receive the vaccine through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Elsmere. For information, call (302) 633-5209.
• If you become sick with flu-like symptoms, call your doctor immediately. Your doctor can prescribe medicines that reduce the severity of flu if he or she knows within two days of the onset of flu symptoms.
• Ask your doctor about being vaccinated against pneumonia (pneumococcal vaccine), one of flu’s most common and potentially severe complications.

DPH has recorded eight confirmed cases of influenza in Delaware this season. Most influenza cases typically occur in January and February.