Flu Mist—Nasal Spray Seasonal Flu Vaccine
- Vaccination with the nasal spray flu vaccine is an option for HEALTHY people age 2-49, who are not pregnant.
- Even people who live with or care for those in a high risk group (including health care workers) can get the nasal spray flu vaccine as long as they are healthy themselves and are not pregnant.
- The one exception is health care workers who care for people with severely weakened immune systems; these people should get the inactivated flu vaccine
(flu shot).
Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccinations
Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but some people are a greater risk than others: people age 65 and older, the very young, people with certain health problems, people with a weakened immune system, smokers.
Immunizations are recommended for anyone over the age of 65 and people with certain health problems such as alcoholism, heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, certain types of cancer and people with a weakened immune system due to illnesses such as HIV infection, Hodgkin’s disease or multiple myeloma.
Usually only one dose of pneumococcal pneumonia shot is needed. A second dose may be recommended for people 65 and older who got their first dose when they were younger than 65 and it has been 5 years or more since the first dose.
Medicare will ONLY PAY for a second pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination if more than 5 years has passed since a claim was paid for a previous vaccination.
About Influenza (the “flu”)
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.
Symptoms of the “flu”
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
How Flu Spreads
Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose—making hand washing a very important barrier against the flu.
Seasonal Flu Shots
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medications conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.
- The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
- Flu season can begin as early as October; most of the time seasonal flu peaks in January or later.
- While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests as the most common.
- Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as it is available. KVNA provides flu shots to adults and children age 3 and older.
- People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease, and people 65 years and older.
- Vaccination is also important for health care workers and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to those at risk.
- Infants younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People (parents) who are for them should be vaccinated instead.
Who should not be Vaccinated against Seasonal Flu
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting their physician:
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
- People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past
- People who developed Guillian-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously
- Children younger than 6 months of age
- People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen
Monday-Friday, 8:30a – 5:00p,
*Closed at noon on December 23rd. Closed December 26th.
Kenosha VNA Office, 600 52nd Street, 3rd Floor, Kenosha
Payment
Flu Shot: $30
Medicare Part B, Medicare PFFS, Cash, Check or Credit Card accepted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600 52nd Street, Suite 300
Kenosha, WI 53140
262 656 8400