The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Public Health is urging all residents to get a flu shot or the FluMist nasal spray vaccine if they have not done so already. Flu season can last until spring, so it is not too late to vaccinate against the flu.
Many people mistakenly believe that there is no benefit to getting a flu vaccine after November, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. In fact, influenza activity does not often peak until after the start of the new year and can continue through March, so vaccinations received in December provide protection at the time when people are most likely to catch the flu. Free flu vaccines continue to be offered through our Public Health clinics for those that do not have a regular doctor or insurance coverage.
Each year in the United States, between 5 and 20 percent of the population is infected with influenza, a serious disease that can lead to complications including pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death. In Los Angeles County in 2005, flu and pneumonia complications led to over 2,000 deaths. The flu also has a significant day-to-day impact on families and communities, leading to missed days of work and school, hardships for family care givers, and preventing people from participating in the activities they enjoy.
Yearly flu vaccinations are the best way to prevent influenza. The vaccine can prevent 70-90% of cases in healthy adults under 65 years of age. The vaccine is safe and does not cause the flu. Some minor side effects can occur, signaling that the immune system is responding to the vaccine and building immunity. Such side effects, which usually last only 1 to 2 days, include soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given; a low-grade fever; and aches and pains. These side effects are minor and are far less risky than suffering through the flu.
Residents are encouraged to first contact their regular doctor for recommended vaccinations. Those who do not have a regular doctor or insurance coverage for vaccines may be eligible for reduced-cost or no-cost vaccines. Free flu vaccines are readily available in LA County, and the traditional shot, FluMist nasal spray vaccine and thimerosal-free (preservative-free) vaccine continues to be offered through Public Health clinics, while supplies last. To find a Public Health clinic near you, contact LA County’s information line at 2-1-1 from any land line or cell phone.
For information on the web regarding low-cost flu vaccines through a health care organization or other vaccination clinic, visit the Public Health Immunization Program’s website by clicking here or at www.findaflushot.com