Siletz
Communi
“Cha-may weeya
Health
Clinic
Medicine Talk
Get Your Flu Shots
It’s deja vu all over again!
It’s flu vaccine time again and the 1999-2000 issue of the newest flu vaccine
should be available at the clinic. Watch for flu shot clinics at the clinic and those
sponsored by your local health department.
Warrior Walkers Walk Again
Siletz Warrior Walkers joined
hundreds of other people to support all
people affected by diabetes. Our team
was 51 strong this year, and more than
What is Influenza?
Influenza is a viral-caused illness that occurs in local epidemics every winter.
The first seasonal increase in influenza usually starts in mid- to late-November.
The epidemic peaks during the holiday season and extends to March. The disease
is by far the worse ailment of the winter season and is much worse than the common
cold. It can be modified or prevented by a safe and effective vaccine that is updated
every year and is usually given in October or November.
Who Should Get a Flu Shot?
Influenza vaccine is recommended for elderly and high-risk patients, including
children with asthma. Also, people in contact with these high-risk individuals should
be immunized.
People over age 65 or those with any chronic or long-term illness, including
diabetes, heart ailments, lung or metabolic disease, and most diseases that
compromise the immune system are included in this group. Health care workers
also are candidates.
Vaccination has been shown to reduce absenteeism in healthy working adults,
and vaccination of children will help prevent household spread of the disease.
Vaccination during pregnancy is safe and women who develop influenza have
an increased risk of complications.
Summary
The essence of the dogma about the flu that we circulate every year at this
time is all true. The really interesting part of the story is the new knowledge about
how this virus changes and the newer medications that are becoming available for
both treatment and prevention. All of these newer approaches require you to visit
your medical provider within 24-48 hours from the onset of your flu illness for any of
these measures to be helpful. This is not true of the flu shot. You can avoid this
illness simply by getting the shot.
600 people turn out at the Eugene site.
Led by our fearless leader, Rick
Leaton, we hiked five miles to raise
awareness and support for diabetes.
Warriors this year included:
Miranda Williams
Lesia and Danielle Warner
Rose Kunkle
Tammy Wagner, Chuck Hermann and
their son, Tanner
Jack McCord, Leslie Hickerson, and
family
Tess Green and her aunt, Ester Roberts
Sharon Edenfield and her sister, Tonya,
Doc, and nephews
Mike, Carole, Zach and Clara Kennedy
Kent and Desiree Rilatos
Brenda Bremner, Judy Imbler and
Samuel
Stephanie Miller
Noani Loveall
Suzi Judd and her daughter, Connie
Tabitha Ebner and family
The Web
If this whets your appetite and you would like to learn more, here are some
good web sites: www.mayohealth.org - www.drkoop.com - www.cdc.gov.
Sandra Hahn
Star Parrish and family
Angela Clarke
Lisa and Brittany Mason
Oregon Tobacco Quit Line
The Quit Line offers free quitting information, one-on-one telephone
counseling, and referrals for either you or a loved one. The Oregon Health Division
operates the Quit Line.
Quit Line Hours
Monday thru Thursday - 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Shelly Butler, Charlotte, Logan and
Cecillie
We didn’t get the largest team
award this year, but we did get an award
for the most spirit. Go Warriors!
Special thanks to the Eugene
If you call at other times, just leave a message and someone will call you
back within one business day.
Toll-Free Quit Line
1-800-270-7867 or 1-800-270-STOP
area office staff, especially Miranda
Williams and Cathy Rasmussen, for all
the organizational help!
21