Making Flu Shots Easier to Get
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is making it easier to get no cost flu vaccinations in Las Cruces.
The Department’s Las Cruces Public Health Office, 1170 N. Solano Drive is now providing full-time immunization services for children and adults, and it couldn’t come at a more important time as we’re now approaching winter and the peak of flu season. Already, one Doña Ana County man has died from flu-related complications.
Flu vaccinations are just one of several immunizations now available for both children and adults at the public health office. Adult immunization services are only for those uninsured, but the immunization center provides all immunizations at no cost for children up through 18 years of age, under the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Families are still encouraged to please bring insurance, Medicaid, and/or Medicare cards.
This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week. Created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the week highlights the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.
Too often both locally and nationwide, people tend to quit thinking about the importance of getting flu shots come the end of November, and their timing couldn’t be worse. Think about it: now it’s December, and flu activity will only continue to increase. Even though the timing and severity of each yearly flu season is unpredictable, flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States between December and February.
The truth is as long as flu viruses are spreading and making people sick, vaccination can provide protection against the flu. Even if you haven’t yet been vaccinated and have already gotten sick with one flu virus, you can still benefit from vaccination since the flu vaccine protects against at least three of the most common flu viruses.
NMDOH and the CDC recommend getting a yearly flu shot for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza disease. It’s particularly recommended for people in the following groups because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
- Children 6 months through 4 years of age
- Pregnant women (any trimester)
- People age 50 and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, lung or heart disease, and those who are immunocompromised
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu
- American Indians and Alaskan Natives
- People who are morbidly obese
- Healthcare and early childhood personnel
In addition to flu shots, the immunization center provides all immunizations required under state law for children to attend public school, in addition to some vaccines recommended for adults. For example, the Tdap vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women at each pregnancy and will be provided for mothers-to-be and family members. Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
So please consider getting vaccinations for you and your family. Please call ahead to ensure services are being provided. For additional information and to make an appointment call the Las Cruces Central Public Health Office at 575-528-5001.
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile) with your questions.
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