The time for central valley residents to get vaccinated is now.

Stanislaus County - Flu season is under way in the United States prompting Julie Gerberding, M.D., Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to hold a news conference encouraging the public to get a flu shot. She noted that in the U.S., 114,000 hospitalizations and over 30,000 deaths each year are related to the flu. High levels of flu are showing up in Texas and other states in the U.S.

John Walker, M.D., Public Health Officer for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) said, “Annual flu shots are important for seniors because seniors are more likely than others to become seriously ill if they get the flu.” Seniors are not the only ones who need the flu vaccine. Other persons who are more likely to have severe illness or complications if they get the flu include those at any age with diabetes, asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, or weakened immune systems. Even healthy infants between 6 and 23 months and adults over the age of 50 years have a greater chance of problems if they get the flu. Finally, anyone who wishes to decrease their risk of illness from the flu should obtain the vaccine, but they should wait until November, so those at highest

A flu shot is needed every year, because the flu virus changes its profile each year. The 2003-04 influenza vaccine contains antigens to provide protection against the three strains of influenza viruses expected to cause illness this winter.

The public can go to the Stanislaus County Public Health Department at 820 Scenic Drive in Modesto until November 26 to get a flu shot for $10. The clinic is giving the shots Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Most flu seasons actually begin in January or February, so November and December are excellent months to obtain a flu shot. Last year over 7,000 county residents received flu shots through the Stanislaus County Public Health Services’ program.

“For their protection, seniors should get a flu shot every year,” explained Dr. Walker.

If the public would like more information, they should contact the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency’s Public Health Services at 558-8872.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) is an outpatient medical system with 9 medical offices located throughout Stanislaus County. The HSA operates the Public Health Department, an Urgent Care Center and multiple programs serving over 500,000 patients and clients each year in Stanislaus County. The HSA also is in local partnerships for the MOMobile project and the Stanislaus Family Practice Residency Program. The HSA has extensive community health information available at its web site at www.hsahealth.org