News Details

County Public Health officials encourage everyone to get the flu vaccine

September 18, 2018

SOLANO COUNTY – Solano County Public Health urges everyone aged six months and older to get vaccinated early for flu before the virus starts going around. The flu vaccine helps control the spread of the flu and protects everyone's health. The start of the flu season is unpredictable and the vaccine takes up to two weeks to become fully effective.

"Flu shots are the best way to protect yourself, your family, and the community at large from becoming seriously ill with the flu," said Dr. Bela Matyas, Health Officer for Solano County. “Vaccination not only reduces the risk of catching the flu, it also reduces the chance that you’ll be hospitalized. Even if it is not a perfect match for all this year’s flu strains, the flu vaccine will provide some protection and reduce your chances of needing to be hospitalized if you do get sick.”

It is important to get the flu vaccine every year because flu strains change over time. Timely flu shots help prevent a disease that hospitalizes hundreds of thousands and kills tens of thousands of Americans every year.

People who experience flu symptoms should stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever goes away. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.

Help stop the spread of germs by practicing good hand washing and health habits:

- Limit your contact with others and stay home from work or school if you are ill
- If you don’t have a tissue to cough into, cover your nose and mouth with your elbow or arm
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based rub
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Certain groups of people may experience complications from the flu and should contact their healthcare provider immediately. These groups include pregnant women, children younger than five years old, adults 65 and older, and people with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes.  Doctors can prescribe antiviral medications that reduce the severity and duration of illness. Anyone who is very sick should go to the emergency room for treatment.

Starting on September 28, free flu shots will be offered to the public at several libraries throughout the county. For the full list including the date, time and library location, visit: https://admin.solanocounty.com:4433/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=29079 

Vaccines are available at doctors’ offices and pharmacies. To find a flu vaccine at a location near you, visit https://vaccinefinder.org

For a list of Solano County community clinics providing low-cost to no-cost flu shots, visit http://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/bureaus/progs_immun_clinics/immunization_program.asp

For more information about influenza, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.