[Cpcommunicator] Pandemic awareness and flu shot clinics 11/5-9
>From Tracie Kanellopoulos
Occupational Health and Safety is sponsoring a Pandemic Awareness Week
during the flu shot clinics, November 5-9, to provide information to
employees and students on seasonal flu, avian flu, and pandemics.
Throughout each of the campuses, look for awareness information
providing hints on ways to stay healthy and friendly reminders to help
stop the spread of germs.
Flu shots are free if you have the State Health Plan BCBSNC, Medicare
Part B, Partners Medicare Choice, Aetna, Humana Gold, or Secure Horizons
insurances.
Please note that participants will be required to bring their insurance
card and a photo ID with them to the clinic, and to sign a consent form
before receiving a flu shot.
Flu shots are $30 for employees without insurance. No appointments
available.
We have included answers to frequently asked flu questions below. Feel
free to visit the BCBSNC Web site at www.bcbsnc.com/flu for more
information, related links, and the latest flu news.
If you have any other questions, please contact Tracie Kanellopoulos
<mailto:tracie.kanellopoulos at cpcc.edu?subject=Flu%20Clinic> via email
or by calling 704.330.6580.
Flu Shot Schedule
DAY
TIME
CAMPUS
ROOM
Monday, Nov. 5
10:00-11:00 a.m.
North
Claytor 1119
12 noon-1:00 p.m.
Cato
Room 142
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Harper
Room 265
Tuesday, Nov. 6
9:00 a.m.-12 noon
Central
Terrell 500
2:00-3:30 p.m.
Harris
Room 1226
Wed.,
Nov. 7
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Central
Terrell 300
Thursday, Nov. 8
3:00-5:30 p.m.
Central
Admin. 4 Room 214
Friday,
Nov. 9
10:00 a.m. -12 noon
Levine
Room 2218
Flu FAQs
Q: Will I get the flu from the flu shot?
A: No. Flu vaccine is created from dead or inactive viruses that are not
contagious.
Q: Do I need a flu shot every year?
A: Yes. Influenza viruses change every year. A new vaccine is used
annually to fight the most current influenza virus. In addition, the
antibody a person develops from the vaccine declines over time.
Q: When should I get a flu shot?
A: Influenza usually occurs from November until April, with activity
peaking between late December and early March. The optimal time for flu
shots is during October through November, however it is clinically
beneficial to be vaccinated through December and January.
Q: Why get a flu shot?
A: Influenza usually leaves its victims unable to function for several
days and is responsible for more than 200,000 hospitalizations each
year.* Getting an annual flu shot is your best protection. *Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2005.
Q: Can children receive a flu shot?
A: Maxim will immunize children 9 years old and older. Children between
the ages of 9 and 17 will require parental consent in order to receive
their flu immunization. Parents of children under the age of 9 will be
asked to check with their primary care physician about flu immunizations
for their child.
Q: Should women who are pregnant receive a flu shot?
A: Flu shots are recommended for women at all stages of pregnancy.
Pregnant women in their first trimester are required to have a written
prescription from their personal physician. Pregnant women in their
second and third trimester may receive the flu shot without a
prescription.
Q: How effective is the flu shot?
A: Flu vaccine has been determined to be about 75-90% effective in
preventing the flu and is your best method of protection.
Q: Who should get a flu shot?
A: The CDC recommends that you receive a flu shot if you fit their
criteria of high-risk or one of the following categories:
* Anyone who wants to reduce the risk of contracting the flu.
* Those over the age of 50
* People with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, a
history of stroke or heart attack, a chronic disease, diabetes, a
compromised immune system, anemia, asthma or other breathing problems
* A health care worker with high-risk patients
* People who have had required regular medical follow-up or
hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic,
kidney, or blood cell diseases
* People traveling to a foreign country
* People living or working with persons who fit into one of
these categories
Q: Can I still get the flu after I get the flu shot?
A: Yes. Like other vaccines, flu vaccine is not 100% effective and does
not take effect until one or two weeks after it is received. During this
time, you will be just as susceptible to contract the flu as individuals
who have not received the vaccination. Still, the best option to prevent
flu is to get a yearly flu shot.
Q: Am I classified as high-risk?
A: You are classified as high-risk if you fall under one of the
following categories:
* 65 years of age or older
* People who are in contact with persons at increased risk of
influenza-related complications
* Residents or employees of a nursing home or other chronic care
facility where some of the residents have chronic medical conditions
* People who have a chronic medical condition such as asthma or
another lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, blood
disease
* People who have immune system problems caused either by
disease (e.g., HIV or lymphoma) or by medication (e.g., chemotherapy or
radiation therapy)
* Health care workers who care for high-risk patients in the
patients' homes
Q: What are the side effects of getting a flu shot?
A: For most people, vaccination causes no side effects. Less than 1/3 of
those who receive a flu shot will experience some soreness at the
vaccination site, and only 5 to 10 percent will suffer mild side effects
such as low-grade fevers and headaches. Anyone who is allergic to eggs
should avoid being vaccinated, since the virus used is grown in hens'
eggs.
Visit www.bcbsnc.com/flu for more answers to your flu-related questions.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.cpcc.edu/pipermail/cpcommunicator/attachments/20071105/bdbe5825/attachment.htm