Hays Co: There’s Still Time to Get Your Flu Vaccination

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Hays County Commissioners Court: There’s Still Time to Get Your Flu Vaccination, Protect Family and Others

The Hays County Commissioners Court and Local Health Department reminded residents Tuesday that getting a flu vaccination is still the best way to prevent falling ill with a flu virus. The Court proclaimed December 7-13 as Influenza Vaccination Week to raise awareness of the need.

County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., urged everyone eligible to receive a flu vaccination to get one, noting that it is not too late for a vaccination since flu tends to peak in January or February in Texas and active cases often continue into spring. The vaccine takes two weeks to take full effect.

Seasonal influenza is caused by a virus which infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat and lungs), causing severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. It is spread by droplets in coughs and sneezes from infected persons.

“A flu vaccination can prevent your from getting the flu or minimize the effects if you do get the flu,” said County Epidemiologist Monty Gomez. “Because there are many variations of the flu, a vaccine may not prevent all the flu strains in a population, but can help with the ones that were predicted to be most prevalent and can keep you from getting some types of flu.” He also noted that the virus used in the flu vaccine injection is “killed” so cannot actually cause the flu, as some people mistakenly think.

Each year, an estimated 36,000 people die from influenza-related illnesses and more than 200,000 are hospitalized nationwide. In Hays County between 2012 and 2014, more than 2,000 people tested positive for influenza and more than 24,000 were diagnosed with an influenza-like illness without benefit of testing.

Getting the vaccination helps protect yourself, loved ones and those in the community who are unable to get a vaccination due to allergies to its ingredients or other medical issues. In Hays County, local clinics and pharmacies often offer flu shots. For children on Medicaid, the Live Oak Health Partner Community Clinic, 401-A Broadway St., San Marcos, can assist.

Photo:

Left to right, Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones, Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., Local Health Department Manager Margie Rodriguez, ImmTrac/PICS Outreach Specialist Elsira Rodriguez, Epidemiologist Monty Gomez, Health Department Director Clint Garza, Rebecca Herring, R.N., TB Case Manager/Communicable Disease; Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant urge residents to get vaccinated for the flu. Influenza Vaccination Awareness Week is December 7-13.