Thursday September 10, 2009

Beginning Monday September 14, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness will offer flu shots to guard against regular seasonal flu to everyone age six months or older.

Flu shots cost $25. The nasal flu mist costs $25. Medicare Part B and Passport will cover the cost for those with those insurance plans. The Department of Public Health and Wellness never turns anyone away because of inability to pay.

Vaccine to protect against novel H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is now in development and should be available in Louisville later this fall or winter. The Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness will release information on H1N1 vaccine as such information becomes available.

“We are beginning our vaccinations for regular seasonal flu earlier this year so that we will be ready to give shots for H1N1 flu when the vaccine is ready,” said Metro Public Health and Wellness Director Dr. Adewale Troutman. “While H1N1 influenza has gotten a lot of attention, we should remember that regular seasonal flu kills as many as 36,000 people in America every year.”

Walk in Clinics for Regular Seasonal Flu

The Department of Public Health and Wellness will hold its annual Louisville Slugger Flu Shot Clinic at 401 E. Main Street on Sunday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is free parking and no appointments are necessary.

The Department of Public Health and Wellness will also hold walk-in flu shot clinics in various locations. Each of these clinics will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No appointments are necessary for these clinics. Dates and locations are as follows:

Flu Shots by Appointment

Flu shots will also be available by appointment at the following sites beginning October 5. Call the clinic site at the phone number listed below to make an appointment.

Dixie Health Clinic

7219 Dixie Highway

937-7277

East Neighborhood Place Health Clinic

810 Barret Ave

574-6638

Middletown Health Clinic

200 Juneau Drive

245-1074

Newburg Health Center

4810 Exeter Avenue

458-0778

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends regular seasonal flu vaccinations for everyone six months of age or older as the best way to avoid flu. The CDC especially recommends that people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications get a flu shot each year. These people are:

• Children aged six months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

ü Health care workers

ü Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu

ü Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

For information, phone 311 or visit www.louisvilleky/health

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