by

Dave Hardin

Public Information Officer

If you’ve paid attention to the news in recent weeks, you know there are some ominous warnings about the upcoming flu season. I recently heard a “worst case scenario” prediction that half of the U.S. population could get the H1N1 flu strain (“swine flu” ) during the upcoming season.

Of course, we hope that doesn’t happen and the experts say the H1N1 strain hasn’t proven to be any worse than other flu strains. The problem is how easily it spreads and the fact that a vaccine for H1N1 is still in development and not expected to be ready until October.

Since there are many people in our older, younger and chronically ill populations who can be gravely affected by the flu, we’re doing all we can to get out information about upcoming flu
vaccination clinics and ways to avoid getting the flu.

Catawba County Public Health suggests the following ways to reduce your chances of getting the flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• If you get sick with the flu, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from making them sick.

• Get the recommended flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccines when they becomes available.

That last bullet point illustrates a complication you’ll notice in the flu shot distribution this year. Because the vaccine for the H1N1 flu is not expected to be available until October and demand for it is expected to be heavy, vaccines for other seasonal varieties of the flu are being given first.

Catawba County Public Health began giving seasonal flu shots on Monday, September 14 at Public Health at 3070 11th Avenue Drive SE, Hickory, behind Catawba Valley Medical Center. Shots will be given, by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Call 828-695-5800 to schedule an appointment.  Here is a link to the schedule of Public Health's flu shot clinics.

Federal health officials reported a little bit of good news on September 10.  Early trials of the H1N1 vaccine seems to indicate it is more efective than first antipicated and that a single H1N1 vaccination may be all that's needed.  Previously, a two-shot series was thought to be needed for the H1N1 strain. 

There’s a huge amount of information about the H1N1 flu, how to protect yourself from the flu, and about the immunization clinics on here our web site at www.catawbacountync.gov. Or you may call Public Health at 828-695-5800 for more information.