E-News from the Office of Senator Van de Putte
Dear Friend,
As a health care professional, I fully realize the serious and possibly fatal symptoms that a person suffering from the flu or pneumonia can experience. In fact, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, each year millions of people in the U.S. get sick with the flu and an average of 36,000 deaths occur.
All persons are at risk of getting the flu, and serious health problems from the flu can occur at any age. Of course the risk for serious health problems, hospitalizations and deaths from the flu are higher among people 65 years of age or older, very young children and people of any age who have medical conditions that place them at increased risk. The Center for Disease Control recommends people in the following groups for vaccination this season:
- all children aged 6-59 months;
- adults aged 65 years and older;
- persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions;
- all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
- residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
- children aged 6 months-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;
- health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and
- out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months.
This flu season, I urge you to protect your health and/or the health of your loved ones by taking advantage of the flu vaccine. In an effort to combat this serious illness, I am joining the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and San Antonio College to host a Flu and Pneumonia Immunization Clinic on Saturday, October 28, 2006. The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the San Antonio College Gymnasium. Free parking will be available in lot #21, located on W. Park Street, off of San Pedro.
The event is first come, first served. Two vaccines will be offered, the Flu Vaccine (free to persons with Medicare Part B, Medicaid, CareLink, Humana, Community First, and CHIP; $25 for the general public) and the Pneumonia Vaccine (free to persons with Medicare Part B and Medicaid, $35 for general public).
For more information on the 2006 Flu and Pneumonia Clinic, please call (210) 207-8790 or visit www.sanantonio.gov/health.
Sincerely,
Leticia
HOW TO CONTACT SENATOR VAN DE PUTTE
District Office
700 N. St. Mary's St. #1725
San Antonio, Texas 78205
(210) 733-6604
(210) 733-6605 - fax
leticia.vandeputte@senate.state.tx.us