PRESS RELEASE (WHTC-AM/FM) — Ottawa County Department of Public Health will host a free drive-through flu vaccine event for for children from 9:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at the health department’s parking lot, 12251 James St. in Holland Township.
This event is specifically for children, newborn to 18 years old, who have Medicaid, no insurance or are underinsured.
Masks must be worn by everyone in the vehicle, except for children younger than 2 years old.
Parents need to bring a photo ID and the child’s Medicaid card. Please do not bring pets in the vehicle, for the safety of those administering the tests.
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year. The vaccine contains a mix of the most common strains of the flu, but they have been killed. A person who gets a flu vaccine cannot catch the flu from it. The vaccine works by stimulating a person’s immune system to recognize the flu strains and build up a defense against live flu strains.
Medical research shows that people who get a flu shot are not only less likely to get the flu, they are less likely to catch COVID-19, even though that is a different type of virus. People who don’t get the flu vaccine are more likely to become ill with either virus — and unvaccinated people who catch COVID-19 are more likely to land in the hospital, according to recent research.
Parents or guardians must fill out a registration form in advance. They are online in English and in Spanish.
Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home from work and school when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Flu can cause a mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
- fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone with flu will have a fever)
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- fatigue (tiredness)
- some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
How Flu Spreads
Researchers say a flu virus spreads mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.
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