Avoid the Flu Fast – Just Drive Thru!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
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 8th and 9th 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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