Flu Shots to Be Offered at Hundreds of Clinics

About 200 flu shot clinics will be held this fall by the nonprofit Visiting Nurse Assn. of Orange County. The vaccinations will be available Sept. 24 to Dec. 11 at Albertson’s supermarkets, and Longs and Sav-on drug stores throughout the county.

The Visiting Nurse Assn. is also offering to hold clinics at companies with 50 or more employees. Association spokeswoman Julie Schoen said American businesses lose an estimated $4 billion each year as a result of flu-related absences.

“Last year was a terrible flu season,” Schoen said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be worse (this season), but it could be as bad.”

The illness can be especially hard on seniors, young children, people with long-term heart and lung problems, and those suffering from chronic diseases, Schoen said. In 1991, 20,000 deaths in the United States were attributed to flu, she said.

“Vaccination prevents illness in about 70% of healthy children and young adults,” association president Gordon Martin said. “It is the best way to fight the flu, yet only 25% to 30% take the vaccine.”

Schoen said a shot is needed annually because an individual’s immunity decreases over time, and because the strain of virus that causes the flu changes each year.

The association’s goal is to administer 14,000 flu shots this season. More than 7,000 vaccinations were administered last season during the program’s inaugural year.

The flu shots cost $10 and are offered to anyone 13 or older. Parental consent is required for ages 13 to 17.

Clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at participating Albertson’s supermarkets; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Sav-on drug stores; and 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Longs drug stores.

Additional information is available by calling the flu clinic hot line at (800) 616-SHOT.