The changing weather can only mean one thing: it’s time to get ready for the upcoming flu season. And the best way to do that is by getting a flu vaccine.
While nothing can guarantee that you won’t get the flu, the vaccine is about as close as you can get. And, health care experts at Parkland Health & Hospital System note that it is especially important for certain populations, including pregnant women, to protect themselves against the virus. Generally, anyone above the age of 6 months is urged to get vaccinated.
“Studies have revealed that children who got vaccinated had a 74 percent decreased risk of getting admitted to a pediatric ICU with flu-related illnesses; and similar risk reductions were seen in adults and the elderly,” said Patricia Chenault-Salisbury, MS, APRN, Clinic Manager at Parkland’s E. Carlyle Smith Jr. Health Center in Grand Prairie. “You should receive the flu vaccine as soon as possible, since it takes two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection.”
That’s why Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers are once again offering flu vaccines as part of their Walk-In Wednesday’s campaign. Dallas County residents can get flu vaccines, without having to make an appointment, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1-4 p.m., every Wednesday during fall and winter months.
In addition to Walk-in Wednesdays, people may call 214.266.4000 to schedule a day and time that may be more convenient for them. The vaccines are provided at a cost of $10 for adults with Parkland HEALTHplus, and $20 for self-pay adults. Children 6 months to 18 years old may qualify for free vaccines under the Texas Vaccines for Children Program. Parkland accepts Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and most major health insurance plans. For persons without health insurance, Parkland can provide financial screening.
The flu season in the U.S. generally starts in October, although it can begin as early as September or as late as February or March. The season generally lasts three to four months and the severity depends on the type of virus strains that are circulating during the season. Anyone can get the flu regardless of age, and it can have serious consequences.
Anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population is affected by the flu virus every season and about 36,000 people die. It is especially important for women who are pregnant to get vaccinated since they are at a higher risk for complications from the flu.
“Pregnant women with the flu have a greater chance for serious problems for their fetuses, including premature birth,” Chenault-Salisbury said. Health experts note that vaccination rates for pregnant women vary each season from 40 to 80 percent, despite the importance of the vaccine for both mother and unborn child. Most major organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine encourage pregnant women to get vaccinated against the flu.
“Some women fear that the vaccine will adversely affect their babies, but research has shown that there are health benefits for the unborn babies, and those benefits continue for up to six months,” Chenault-Salisbury said. “Flu shots have not been shown to cause harm to the mothers or their unborn children.”
To find the Parkland COPC health center nearest you, visit www.parklandhospital.com/locations
