FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2008

Contact
Julie Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

Avoid the Flu Fast – Just Drive Thru!

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Provides a Fast Alternative Way to Receive a 2008 Flu Shot – A Mass Immunization Drive Thru.

Champaign, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be providing annual flu shots from the parking lot of their new building at 201 West Kenyon Road on Wednesday and Thursday, October 8^th and 9^th from 8:00am – 8:00pm.  Vaccines will be available for everyone ages 4 and up.  Flu vaccines are available for $30.00 and Pneumonia vaccines are available for $35.00.  CUPHD will accept Medicaid, Medicare, Visa, Master Card, cash, and personal checks.  This year’s flu clinic will be a “drivethru”.  Customers wanting flu shots will not have to leave the comfort of their car, but rather be able to “get the shot and go”.

CUPHD hopes that by offering such a convenient and speedy delivery of service, that more people will take advantage of this year’s flu shot, thus reducing the number of people susceptible to illness this flu season.  The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.  It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5-20% of the population gets the flu annually, more than 200,000 are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from the flu each year.  Some people, such as the elderly, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.

“The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a flu vaccination each year.” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator at CUPHD.  “It takes about two weeks for your body to develop antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus. The flu season can begin as early as October and can last as late as May.”

The flu vaccine contains “killed virus” so people cannot get sick with the flu from taking a flu shot.  However, different side effects can be associated with the flu shot.  Some minor side effects could include soreness, redness or swelling at the inoculation site, low grade fever, or body aches.  If these problems occur, they will begin soon after the shot, and usually last 1 to 2 days.  However, on rare occasions, flu vaccine can cause severe allergic reactions, and is not recommended for people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, or who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination in the past.  People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should not be vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.

For those interested parties that may be unable to attend the annual drive-thru flu clinic, flu vaccinations will be available during regular CUPHD business hours, Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm, at the 201 West Kenyon Road location.  No appointment is necessary.

For more information about flu vaccines and other CUPHD programs and services, call 217-352-7961 or visit the CUPHD website at www.c-uphd.org.

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Download 2008-10-01-Annual-Flu-Clinic-PR

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2008
CONTACT: Susan Butler, 531-4268, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Safe Kids Champaign County Partners with National Seat Check Saturday to Urge Parents and Caregivers to Get Their Child Safety Seats Inspected Over 90 child safety seat checkpoints will be held in Illinois

Champaign, IL – The Illinois Department of Transportation/Division of Traffic Safety (IDOT/DTS), AAA and Safe Kids Champaign County urges parents and caregivers to make sure their child safety seats are properly installed in their vehicles at the second annual “National Seat Check Saturday,” on Saturday, September 20, 2008.  As part of National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 21-27) certified technicians will be available to provide free on-site child safety seat inspections from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Rogers in Rantoul.  Checkpoints across the state are sponsored by IDOT/DTS, AAA, Evenflo and Illinois Safe Kids.

“It’s the responsibility of every single parent and caregiver out there to make sure their children are safely restrained – every trip, every time,” said Susan Butler, Safe Kids Champaign County Coordinator.  “We are urging everyone to get their child safety seats inspected.  When it comes to the safety of a child, there is no room for mistakes.”

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, 8,325 lives of children under age 5 have been saved by the proper use of child restraints during the past 30 years.  In 2006, among children under 5, an estimated 425 lives were saved by child restraint use.  Research shows that child restraints provide the best protection for all children up to age 8; after age 8, and when a child has reached 4’9” tall, safety belts provide the best protection.  Illinois law requires child safety seat or booster seat use up to age 8.

For maximum child passenger safety, Butler said parents and caregivers should refer to the following 4 Steps for Kids guidelines for determining which restraint system is best suited to protect children based on age and size:

1. For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds.
2. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).
3. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle safety belts fit properly. Safety belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall).
4. When children outgrow their booster seats, (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall) they can use the adult safety belts in the back seat, if they fit properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).

For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week, a national effort to remind parents and caregivers of the lifesaving effect child safety seats have in protecting young children, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

To find a complete listing of Seat Check Saturday checkpoints in Illinois, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.

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Download 2008-09-15-Illinois-CPS-Week-NR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2008

Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

Local Students Needing School & Sports Physicals Have Many Options

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s School Physical Clinic is full, but there are many other options for area students to receive their required school physicals.

Champaign, IL – Local school students that are planning on entering Kindergarten, 6^th Grade, 9^th Grade or playing on school sports teams are required to have a school physical.  The only exception to this mandate is those students that previously received a 5^th Grade physical.  The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has been offering school physical and immunization clinics this summer.  There are currently two more clinics scheduled on August 21 and October 2, 2008.  These clinics are currently full, but people can call to be placed on a waiting list in the event of a cancellation.

Parents of students without insurance or those with insurance that does not cover immunizations are encouraged to call CUPHD at (217) 531-4300 to set up an appointment to receive any necessary immunizations through the Vaccines for Children Program in the Division of Maternal & Child Health.

“School physicals and immunizations are extremely important to the well-being of school children.” said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator, CUPHD Division of Wellness & Health Promotion.  “School physicals & immunizations provide children with the best possible protections against illnesses and injuries, allowing them to comfortably devote as much time as possible to their studies.”

Parent’s interested in making appointments for school physicals can contact any of the following providers:

Provena Covenant Medical Center

Physicals cost $25.00 at the time of service.  Visit does not include immunizations.

Carle Clinic

Physicals cost $120 at Convenient Care if the student is a registered patient.  Carle will still see a student through Convenient Care if the student is not a registered patient, but the fee will be higher.

Urbana School Health Center

Students of the Urbana School District may call the Urbana School Health Center (USHC) at (217) 239-4220 to make an appointment for a school physical.  Physicals for students with no insurance or private insurance will be $20.00.  For students with a current medical card, the cost of the physical will be covered by the medical card.  Physicals at the USHC are only available to students currently enrolled in the Urbana School District.  Immunizations are also available.

For more information on school physicals and immunizations, please call (217) 5314253.  For information on any of the other programs available at CUPHD please call (217) 352-7961 or visit the CUPHD website at www.c-uphd.org.

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Download 2008-08-19-School-Physicals-2008