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The Pratt County Health Department will begin offering flu shots Thursday, Sept. 15, at the health department office at 712 S. Main.
Walk-ins are welcome but it is best to call the department at 672-4135 to make sure a nurse is available to give the shot, said Debbie McGraw, Pratt County Public Health Director.
Clients need to bring their Medicare, Medicaid or health insurance card when they come in for a shot. If the client has no insurance the shots cost $30, McGraw said.
Shots will be available for people six months and older. People with chronic health problems such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the elderly should definitely get the shots.
People with allergies to eggs cannot take the shot because it is made with eggs. Patients on chemotherapy should check with their physician before getting the shots or the health department can call for the client, McGraw said.
“Clients can call us ahead of time if they are concerned about a health problem and we can call their doctor,” McGraw said.
The Health Department will also hold a drive-through clinic from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Township 12 Fire Station at 224 Country Club Road.
If the clients have a hardship getting in and out of the vehicle at the drive-through clinic, the health department staff can come to the car and give them the shot in the parking lot. They also need to bring the Medicare, Medicaid or health insurance card so they can be copied.
Everyone who gets a flu shot will have to first fill out a consent form. The forms will be available at the Health Department office, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program office at 619 North Main and the city library.
The Health Department will soon have the consent form available on-line at prattcounty.org so clients can complete the form from an in-home computer.
“The consent form allows us to do the vaccination. We have to have that for everything we do,” McGraw said.
The information on the consent form includes each individual name, address, date of birth and a brief medical history to check for allergies.
Flu symptoms usually come suddenly and include: a fever of 100 degrees or greater, headache, muscle aches, chills, extreme tiredness, cough and a runny nose, a problem more with children than with adults.
The help stay healthy: wash hands for 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice) with hot soapy water or an alcohol based sanitizer if soap and water is not available. If a person gets the flu they should stay home and recuperate. Always cough or sneeze into an elbow or tissue and then throw the tissues away.
To stay healthy everyone should eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest and exercise.
While a healthy life style will help people fight the flu it will not prevent people from catching it. Some additional help is needed to fight off the flu.
“Come see us for a flu shot to keep our community healthy,” McGraw.
The Pratt County Health Department will begin offering flu shots Thursday, Sept. 15, at the health department office at 712 S. Main.
Walk-ins are welcome but it is best to call the department at 672-4135 to make sure a nurse is available to give the shot, said Debbie McGraw, Pratt County Public Health Director.
Clients need to bring their Medicare, Medicaid or health insurance card when they come in for a shot. If the client has no insurance the shots cost $30, McGraw said.
Shots will be available for people six months and older. People with chronic health problems such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the elderly should definitely get the shots.
People with allergies to eggs cannot take the shot because it is made with eggs. Patients on chemotherapy should check with their physician before getting the shots or the health department can call for the client, McGraw said.
“Clients can call us ahead of time if they are concerned about a health problem and we can call their doctor,” McGraw said.
The Health Department will also hold a drive-through clinic from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Township 12 Fire Station at 224 Country Club Road.
If the clients have a hardship getting in and out of the vehicle at the drive-through clinic, the health department staff can come to the car and give them the shot in the parking lot. They also need to bring the Medicare, Medicaid or health insurance card so they can be copied.
Everyone who gets a flu shot will have to first fill out a consent form. The forms will be available at the Health Department office, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program office at 619 North Main and the city library.
The Health Department will soon have the consent form available on-line at prattcounty.org so clients can complete the form from an in-home computer.
“The consent form allows us to do the vaccination. We have to have that for everything we do,” McGraw said.
The information on the consent form includes each individual name, address, date of birth and a brief medical history to check for allergies.
Flu symptoms usually come suddenly and include: a fever of 100 degrees or greater, headache, muscle aches, chills, extreme tiredness, cough and a runny nose, a problem more with children than with adults.
The help stay healthy: wash hands for 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice) with hot soapy water or an alcohol based sanitizer if soap and water is not available. If a person gets the flu they should stay home and recuperate. Always cough or sneeze into an elbow or tissue and then throw the tissues away.
To stay healthy everyone should eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest and exercise.
While a healthy life style will help people fight the flu it will not prevent people from catching it. Some additional help is needed to fight off the flu.
“Come see us for a flu shot to keep our community healthy,” McGraw.
