One infant has already died from the flu since mid October, and the flu season hasn’t even reached its peak.
The greatest flu activity in this country occurs between December and February.
Holiday parties—Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s—are joyous, yet they are also dangerous times when hugs and kisses from family and friends, even handshakes, can spread flu germs.
Who is most at risk?
Pregnant women, women who have just given birth, newborn infants, children under age 2, people over the age of 65 and those with chronic illnesses. People with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS and other serious conditions are also at greater risk.
Complications of the flu can be serious and can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, worsening of chronic medical conditions in extreme cases, hospitalization or death.
Anyone who catches the flu can transmit it to another.
“A day before [individuals] know they have the flu, they can transmit [it] to others,” said Lizz Romo, senior project coordinator at South Los Angeles Health Projects. Romo coordinates immunization education and promotion at the agency’s 11 WIC centers. “Adults continue to be contagious until approximately five days after their symptoms have begun. Children can transmit influenza to others for 10 more days.”
At the Manchester WIC Center in South Los Angeles, health counselors encourage immunization against the flu.
“We encourage everyone to be immunized,” said Victoria Valdez, area manager of the Manchester WIC Center and several other WIC centers. “Pregnant women, their unborn babies, new moms and their newborns are at especially great risk for the flu,” she said. During one-on-one counseling sessions with pregnant mothers, health counselors promote the flu shot.
“At WIC we encourage any adults who are caretakers, such as parents, grandparents and daycare workers, to become immunized against the flu,” Valdez said. “We suggest that parents discuss questions or concerns with their doctors.”
Free flu shots for children ages 6 months-18 years old will be provided in front of the Manchester WIC Center Thursday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., by COACH for Kids and Their Families. The Manchester WIC Center is located at 250 E. Manchester Ave. (at San Pedro), Los Angeles.
Children do not have to be WIC participants. Parents need to provide a child’s shot record.
Children can also receive free flu shots in front of the Figueroa WIC Center, Florence WIC Center, Lynwood WIC Center and South Gate WIC Center throughout December.
COACH for Kids and Their Families is a program of the Cedars-Sinai Maxine Dunitz Children’s Health Center. COACH provides no-cost health and social services to underserved communities in Los Angeles.
“Wash your hands often, and get vaccinated,” urged Dr. Oliver Brooks, pediatrician and associate medical director of Watts HealthCare Corporation. “Ninety percent of deaths associated with the flu occur in seniors age 65 and older. Of adults older than 65 in Los Angeles County, only 37 percent of African Americans reported receiving a recent seasonal flu vaccination in 2009, compared to 64 percent of Latinos and 66 percent of Whites. We need to do better than this.
“The flu is different than a cold and more deadly,” Dr. Brooks said. “Influenza, along with pneumonia, is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. The flu vaccine does not and cannot cause the flu. The flu shot is not 100 percent effective, but it is the best way to protect us. The vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective. A person continues to be at risk during that time. After that it is still possible to become ill with the flu, but the illness will usually be milder,” Brooks said.
Free flu shots for adults and children are provided at flu clinics by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Flu clinics will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Macedonia Church, 1751 E. 114th St., and at the Watts Healthy Farmers’ Market, held in the Ted Watkins Park. For more information about county flu clinics, call 211.
For information about children’s flu shots provided near WIC centers, call (310) 661-3080. To learn about South LA Health Projects, go to www.slahp.org.
COACH for Kids provides free medical care for children at many locations. For more information, call (888) 926-2249.
