Countywide : Public Encouraged to Get Flu Shots

Because the upcoming flu season is expected to be unusually severe, officials for the American Lung Assn. are strongly encouraging people with chronic health problems to get vaccinated between now and Nov. 15.

Influenza vaccinations are especially important this year because of the predicted prevalence of the type A Beijing influenza virus, which affects adults more severely than children, said spokeswoman Diane Masseth-Jones.

Flu symptoms include aches, fever, chills, weakness, coughing, runny nose and sore throat. For most people, the flu causes several days of discomfort. However, the disease is potentially deadly, especially for the elderly, people who suffer chronic lung disease and those with weakened immune systems, Masseth-Jones said.

Underscoring the seriousness of the health threat, she noted that about 79,000 people in the United States died in 1990 after contracting influenza and pneumonia.

Combined, those illnesses rank as the sixth leading cause of death in the nation and the No. 1 killer in the infectious disease category.

Vaccines are highly effective in combatting the flu. Those who are vaccinated will find that “if they do get the flu, it’s less severe,” Masseth-Jones said.

Flu vaccines are now covered by Medicare. To find the nearest vaccination location, call the American Lung Assn. at (800) 586-4872.