The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reminding people to get a flu vaccine this week as part of National Influenza Vaccination Week campaign.
Tuesday is designated as Children’s Vaccination Day. Thursday is Seniors’ vaccination Day, and Friday will focus on vaccination of health care workers — all three groups labeled by the CDC as high risk for contracting and spreading the flu virus.
The CDC also is using the week to remind parents of the agency’s new recommendations for who should be getting vaccinated.
As we reported here earlier, the CDC says kids as old as 18 should be innoculated against the virus. Previously, the government only recommended the shot for kids 6 months to 5 years old.
Here are the county’s agencies where you can still get a flu shot:
Santa Ana
Orange County Public Health Clinic Locations and Flu Shot Times
Santa Ana
1725 W. 17th Street
Monday through Friday: 8 am to 4:30 p.m.
Closed from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Buena Park
6301 Beach Blvd. Suite 103
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 1 to 4:30 pm
Meanwhile, a study published in the most recent issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found the shot could be beneficial to the health — and wallets — of college students, too. Researchers followed more than 12,000 students at the University of Minnesota and St. Olaf’s College during four flu seasons. They found that for every two students vaccinated against flu, the test group experienced one fewer day of flu or flu-like illness, National Public Radio reported.
And the study found that translates a much lower risk of missed classes, missed assignments and botched tests. Which means kids, or their parents, won’t have to foot the bill to re-take classes. Read the whole story here.
Check out a graphic on the flu here
Find out who the CDC says should be getting a flu shot here.
Learn about Orange County’s immunization registry here.
And learn more about the CDC’s campaign here.
