WINNEMUCCA - A free flu shot clinic has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9, at the office of the Community Health Nurse.
Walk-ins are welcome from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 102 E. Haskell Street.
For those who can't attend the free flu clinic, vaccinations will be available from the Community Health Nurse during regular business hours for an administrative cost of $20 each.
This is the second free clinic in as many weeks. On Thursday, Dec. 26, 945 people were vaccinated against the flu in just four hours at the Winnemucca Convention Center.
That clinic took place by order of Dr. Tracey D. Green, the State of Nevada's chief health officer, who called for the emergency distribution of flu vaccine the day after Christmas.
The state sent 1,700 vaccinations for the clinic, including 300 for pediatric patients ages 6 to 36 months.
Remaining vaccines were taken to the office of the Community Health Nurse, where they will be distributed during the Jan. 9 clinic at no charge.
Children age 8 and under who received a flu shot for the first time need to have a follow-up shot in 30 days.
According to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, H1N1 is the predominant flu strain this season and the flu shot covers that along with three other flu strains.
The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health also confirms there have been recent deaths in Nevada and nationwide associated with severe complications of the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said this flu season is typical in that flu activity is currently low in the United States.
However, the incidence of cases in Nevada and in the United States is likely to peak in February, so anyone who has not yet received a flu vaccine should do so now.
Flu is a serious illness that causes approximately 200,000 people to be hospitalized each year.
"The best precautions you can take are getting a flu shot, being conscientious about hand washing, and if you are ill, limiting your contact with others as much as possible," said Tracey D. Green, MD, Chief Medical Officer.
The following will help prevent residents from contracting or spreading the disease.
• If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and discard the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If these are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
Additionally, the CDC recommends that people not travel while they are ill. People with flu-like symptoms should wait to travel until at least 24 hours after their fever has subsided without the use of fever-lowering medications.
Those who become ill while traveling should postpone traveling home until they are well.
To contact the office of the Humboldt County Community Health Nurse, please call (775) 623-6575.
For more information about seasonal flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.
For more information about the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, please visit: http://health.nv.gov.
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