Want to stay healthy this winter?

According to the Placer County Health and Human Services Department, one of the very best ways to protect your health is to get a flu shot.

The County’s last low-cost flu shot clinic is planned for Wednesday, November 28, 9 a.m. to noon at the Multipurpose Senior Center in Auburn, located at 11577 F Avenue.

“It’s not just ‘the flu’ – influenza will be debilitating for many of us, and it can be life-threatening for some of our residents,” said Dr. Mark Starr, Placer County Health and Human Services. “Please get vaccinated to protect yourself, and to reduce the chances that you might spread the flu to someone close to you.”

Seasonal flu can be a very serious disease for people who are at greatest risk, and on average more than 35,000 Americans die of seasonal flu each year. About 226,000 are hospitalized due to influenza and its complications. Combined with pneumonia, it is the 8^th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association.

Flu season typically does not peak until February, so much of the flu season remains.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California Department of Public Health have recommended that the groups listed below receive flu vaccinations as a priority, however the county has plenty of flu vaccine available for other people as well.

People in these groups are considered to have the greatest need of a flu shot:

• Adults aged 50 and older.
• All women who will be pregnant during influenza season.
• Children 6 months to 5 years of age.
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
• Healthcare workers with direct patient care. New state law requires acute care hospitals to offer vaccine to all employees free of charge.
• Individuals with underlying chronic medical conditions.
• Individuals who live with or care for an elderly individual or a child less than 5 years of age.

Children younger than nine years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first time will need two doses of flu vaccine.

Flu shots cost $10. There is no charge to MediCare patients who can show their MediCare cards and who are not enrolled in an HMO plan.