600 doses of flu vaccine available in Tulsa County

Tuesday, December 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa, Oklahoma) The Tulsa City-County Health Department has received approximately 600 doses of flu vaccine. The very limited supply of flu vaccine is available free of charge to individuals considered to be at the highest risk for flu complications. Those at highest risk include healthy children aged 6-23 months, adults aged 65 years and over, pregnant women in their second or third trimester during influenza season, and persons aged 2 years and over with underlying chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and those on routine aspirin therapy.

Healthy persons aged 5-49 years are encouraged to be vaccinated with intranasally administered live, attenuated flu vaccine such as FluMist.

The flu vaccine is available at the following locations today with the approximate number of doses at each location noted in parentheses:

Expo Square Health Center (170 doses)
4616 E. 15th Street, Tulsa, OK

James O. Goodwin Health Center (170 doses)
5051 S. 129th E. Avenue, Tulsa, OK

Central Regional Health Center (170 doses)
315 S. Utica, Tulsa, OK

Sand Springs Health Center (50 doses)
306 E. Broadway, Sand Springs, OK

Collinsville Health Center (50 doses)
1201 W. Center, Collinsville, OK

The Tulsa Health Department clinics are open 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Friday. However, it is anticipated that the flu vaccine supply will be depleted very quickly. The public is encouraged to call the influenza information line at 595-4500 or check the Tulsa Health Department web site at www.tulsa-health.org to obtain the latest information about the flu and the flu vaccine availability.

The Tulsa Health Department recommends the following guidelines for individuals during this flu season:

Wash your hands with soap, frequently and well, throughout the day. This especially important if you are around someone who is ill and when you are outside of your own home.

Do not put you hands or fingers in your eyes, nose or mouth.

Avoid eating or drinking after others and sharing eating and drinking utensils.

If you utilize a home dishwasher, make certain the sanitizing cycle is used as well as heat drying.

Keep yourself in good shape nutritionally and physically including getting sufficient rest.

If you are elderly or have health problems, stay home. If you must go out, limit your exposure to others, especially crowds in enclosed spaces. Particularly avoid close contact to persons who are coughing or sneezing.

If you have a fever, cough or are experiencing achiness or other flu symptoms, stay home until you are well and at least until you no longer have fever. You may infect others for up to 7 days after you begin to exhibit symptoms. Contact your normal healthcare provider if you feel you need medical care.

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough with a tissue. Don't handle objects that other will handle unless you must and wash your hands frequently to disinfect them.

Drink plenty of fluids and take over-the-counter medications to reduce discomfort and control fever. Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations.

Persons visiting or caring for elderly individuals or persons with chronic health conditions should be particularly careful of transmitting the flu virus to them by strictly observing the precautions noted above.