For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 978-769-5193
Email: jessica@jgpr.net

Andover Department of Public Health Encourages Residents to Get Their Flu Shots

ANDOVER – With flu season quickly getting underway, the Andover Health Division would like to provide residents with health tips and remind them to get their flu vaccination.

“Although the weather outside may seem too warm for it to be flu season, it is never too early to vaccinate,” said Thomas Carbone, Director of Public Health in Andover. “We would like to encourage residents to get their flu vaccine to help keep our community as healthy as possible this year.”

The Andover Department of Public Health will be holding a flu clinic on November 17 from 4-7 p.m. at the Center at Punchard (Senior Center), 30 Whittier Ct. The clinic is for residents age two and older with no appointment necessary. Nasal Mist and Injections (including High Dose) will be available, and residents are asked to bring their insurance cards for billing purposes; there is no out of pocket charge regardless of insurance coverage.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an extremely contagious respiratory illness that occurs mostly in the winter or early spring. It attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract.

Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Any number of these symptoms may present and residents are advised to call their doctor for medical advice.

The flu vaccine is updated every year based on which influenza viruses are expected to make people sick. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses, as it is designed to:

• Prevent you from getting sick from the flu.
• Protect people who are at greater risk of getting seriously ill from flu, like children younger than 2 years old, adults 65 and older, pregnant women (and those up to two weeks postpartum), and people with chronic health conditions. Vaccination is also important for healthcare workers and other people who live with or care for high risk people.
• Reduce symptoms and the risk of hospitalization and death if you were to get sick.

For more information and downloadable forms, visit http://andoverma.gov/health/ or contact the Department of Public Health at (978) 623-8295.

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