Tulare County Offers Flu Shots

Influenza is a respiratory infection that produces fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough lasting a week or more and Tulare County residents are urged to get the flu vaccination.

"Receiving a flu vaccine this fall season is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself and those around you to keep you healthy,” said County Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught. “There are several formulations of the vaccine available this year and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) does not recommend one over the other but recommends that everyone receive a vaccine."

Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing influenza. The vaccine also helps prevent you from spreading the flu to your family members, friends, and co-workers. In the case of those at high risk for complicated influenza, vaccination could be lifesaving.

According to the CDC, each year about 36,000 Americans, mostly in these high risk groups, reportedly die from flu complications and flu is the 8th leading cause of death in the United States. Vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of six months.

Certain groups of persons are at high risk for complicated influenza and for them the vaccine is especially important. These groups are:
- Any person with a chronic medical condition that requires frequent medical attention. Examples include asthma, diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease and many others.
- Pregnant women
- Any person who will have contact with an infant less than 6 months of age during the influenza season
- Children under the age of five
- Adults 55 years and older

Vaccination of health care providers is also encouraged as a means of preventing transmission of influenza from the provider to high risk patients. At this time, the vaccine is widely available in the community.

For monthly flu clinic schedules, please visit Influenza is a respiratory infection that produces fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough lasting a week or more and Tulare County residents are urged to get the flu vaccination.

"Receiving a flu vaccine this fall season is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself and those around you to keep you healthy,” said County Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught. “There are several formulations of the vaccine available this year and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) does not recommend one over the other but recommends that everyone receive a vaccine."

Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing influenza. The vaccine also helps prevent you from spreading the flu to your family members, friends, and co-workers. In the case of those at high risk for complicated influenza, vaccination could be lifesaving.

According to the CDC, each year about 36,000 Americans, mostly in these high risk groups, reportedly die from flu complications and flu is the 8th leading cause of death in the United States. Vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of six months.

Certain groups of persons are at high risk for complicated influenza and for them the vaccine is especially important. These groups are:
- Any person with a chronic medical condition that requires frequent medical attention. Examples include asthma, diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease and many others.
- Pregnant women
- Any person who will have contact with an infant less than 6 months of age during the influenza season
- Children under the age of five
- Adults 55 years and older

Vaccination of health care providers is also encouraged as a means of preventing transmission of influenza from the provider to high risk patients. At this time, the vaccine is widely available in the community.

Click here to see monthly flu clinic schedules.