Danbury VNA Will Help Area Residents Prepare For Flu Season

The Danbury Visiting Nurse Association is getting a jump start on the flu season by encouraging residents to get immunized before the winter, the peak time for outbreaks of influenza. The VNA is scheduling flu shot clinics across the region including three this month in Newtown. There is a fee for each shot, depending on health insurance coverage (see below). According to Irene Litwak, flu immunization manager, the flu is a serious public health concern that can be prevented with the flu shot.

“Nationwide, five to 20 percent of the population gets the flu. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and the mortality rate is approximately 36,000,” said Ms Litwak.

Some people are more susceptible to the flu, particularly older adults, young children, and people with certain health conditions. People at high risk are children aged 6-59 months, pregnant women, adults 50 years and older and anyone with certain chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

People who live and care for those at high risk for complications from the flu include anyone caring for a high risk susceptible individual, out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age, and health care workers.

Ms Litwak emphasizes that the flu shot does not give people the flu, that flu can spread by healthy adults, and may effect others before the symptoms appear. Immunization before the flu season begins protects individuals and the people they come in contact with from spreading the disease.

On Saturday, October 14, from 10 am until noon a clinic will be held at Washington Mutual Bank, 359 South Main Street in Newtown.

A second clinic, at Newtown Senior Center, is scheduled for Halloween — Tuesday, October 31 —from 10 am until noon. Preregistration is required by calling the center at 270-4315.

Costs for flu shots is $33 if no health insurance. Anyone with Medicare Part B, Anthem, HealthNet, ConnectiCare, or Oxford should have their insurance card with them; show your card at the clinic, and there is no charge for the flu shot.

Pneumonia shots will also be available at the senior center clinic. These shots are normally $46, but are also covered by Medicare Part B.

For information on other area clinics, call the 24-hour flu hotline at 730-5239 or visit DanburyVNA.org.