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Hospital will give free flu shots
Published October 20, 2009
LAKE JACKSON — A shot might bring a brief injection of discomfort, but the discomfort and potential danger of the seasonal flu lasts much longer.
That is why Brazosport Regional Health System is offering free seasonal flu vaccinations this week, said Scott Briner, Brazosport Regional Health System spokesman.
“Being able to control and prevent the spread of flu is critical in the community,” he said.
Both clinics will be from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., the first today at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Freeport, the second Wednesday at Lake Jackson Civic Center.
“It is really best to at least be protected from the seasonal flu,” said Cathy Sbrusch, infection preventionist at Brazosport Regional Health System. Even those who already have had the flu should get a shot, she said.
With no other requirements than to show up, Brazosport Regional Health System officials are expecting a flood of Brazoria County residents to take advantage of its annual free flu immunization clinics.
In years past, the free flu shot clinics have been well-attended, Briner said. People should arrive early because the line can be fairly long, he said.
Bill Hopwood works at the Lake Jackson Civic Center, where the clinic has been held before. He said turnout for the shots is always unpredictable.
“I’ve seen them lined up halfway to the PD,” Hopwood said. He has also seen people walking straight in to receive a shot.
But Hopwood’s guess is this year will see a lot of activity because of the H1N1 scare, he said.
“Everyone’s worried,” he said.
Brazosport Regional Health System was given about 2,000 seasonal flu shots from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Briner said. The vaccine combats only the seasonal flu and not H1N1, commonly referred to as the swine flu.
Hospital officials will have another flu shot clinic for the H1N1 virus when the vaccine for that strain of the flu is released, he said.
The flu shots are available to anyone, but the hospital specifically is targeting people older than 65, adults with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems, and pregnant women, Briner said.
Pregnant women must have written permission from their obstetrician to receive a flu shot, he said.
Influenza is a respiratory illness with symptoms including high fever, chills, dry cough, headache, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, fatigue and muscle aches, according to the Brazosport Regional Health System Web site. A flu vaccine can protect someone from getting sick or make the illness milder if a person contracts it, it said.
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SHOT CLOCK
Free flu shots will be given 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
TODAY
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1019 W. Sixth St., Freeport
WEDNESDAY
Lake Jackson Civic Center, 333 Highway 332, Lake Jackson
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