To help older individuals avoid the flu, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging’s PrimeTime Health Program in conjunction with Penn Highlands Clearfield Home Health are offering flu shot clinics at all Centers for Active Living and Houtzdale Family Service Center.
Individuals are asked to please bring their Medical Insurance card to the clinic. Geisinger Gold, Medicaid and those without medical insurance coverage will be charged $20.
While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that certain people, especially older individuals, get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications, or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends an influenza (flu) vaccine every year, as the first and best way to protect against getting the flu. By two weeks after vaccination, the body develops antibodies to protect against the viruses in the vaccine.
Those antibodies help protect individuals from influenza viruses if they come in contact with them later. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than six months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
During recent flu seasons, between 80 percent and 90 percent of flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older. “Flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May.
The CDC recommends that people get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as the vaccine becomes available in their community. Vaccination before December is best since this timing ensures that protective antibodies are in place before flu activity is typically at its highest.
CDC continues to encourage people to get vaccinated throughout the flu season.
The influenza vaccine is recommended for:
- Everyone six months of age and older;
- People with underlying health conditions, such as heart, respiratory, kidney, liver metabolic and immune system problems;
- People with weakened immune systems such as HIV/AIDS, long-term treatment of steroids, and cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs;
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;
- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
- Physicians, nurses, family members or anyone else in close contacts with any of these groups at risk for influenza; and
- Anyone wishing to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill from influenza.
CCAAA flu shot clinics are scheduled at the following locations and times.
- Houtzdale Family Service Center, Monday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Clearfield Center for Active Living, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Mahaffey Center for Active Living, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Coalport Center for Active Living, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Kylertown Center for Active Living, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Karthaus Center for Active Living, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Anyone wishing to also eat lunch at a Center for Active Living is asked to make reservations with the center by 9 a.m. the day before the clinic.
In addition to the vaccination, individuals can help fend off the flu by keeping your immune defenses strong. That means getting proper sleep, eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise.
Also, safety measures such as washing your hands frequently and keeping them away from your face and eyes will minimize the likelihood that the virus will be transmitted from your hands to your bloodstream.
If the flu bug does bite, stay home, stay in bed, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Throw used tissues in the trash immediately rather than allowing them to contaminate tabletops or other common areas.
For more information on the flu shot clinics, call the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc. at 814-765-2696 or 1-800-225-8571.
Programs and services of the agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., Mature Resources Foundation and local and consumer contributions.