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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2005)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, October 20, 2005 Flu shots at Washington County clinic The Essential Health Clinic and the Washington County Department of Health and Hu- man Services will be offering flu vaccine for $15 on Saturday, October 29 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Hillsboro Public Health Clinic at 155 N. First Av- enue. A total of 400 vaccine doses will be available to the public. The clinic will be staffed by vol- unteers from the Essential Health Clinic, a local, non-profit clinic that provides urgent med- ical care, medical advice and referrals to people with out ac- cess to medical care in Wash- ington County. All of the $15 ad- ministration fee will be donated to the Essential Health Clinic. The Washington County De- partment of Health and Human Services is donating the use of Dogs can get the flu, too A case of canine influenza, dog flu, was confirmed in the Portland area. Dog flu is a new, highly contagious and poten- tially deadly virus that causes respiratory infection. It is be- lieved to have jumped species from horses to racing dogs in Florida and has been spread- ing in kennels and racetracks throughout the United States. The symptoms can look like the common “kennel cough,” because coughing is the most common symptom. However, dogs with canine influenza are usually sick for longer periods (several weeks), are more likely to have a fever and nasal dis- charge, and to develop pneu- monia. Most dogs develop a milder form of the disease, but some require hospitalization and intensive care. The fatality rate is about one to five percent. Call your veterinarian if your dog develops a cough. In addi- tion, if your dog is coughing, do not take it out to locations where it might infect other dogs. Keep your dog home un- til it is well, or as directed by your veterinarian. Wash your hands well after handling any sick dog before touching anoth- er dog. There is no vaccine against canine influenza although vet- erinary researchers are work- ing on developing one. The Bordetella (kennel cough) vac- cine does not protect dogs against the flu. People cannot catch dog flu. Horses, cats, and other ani- mals are not at risk either. Consult with your veterinar- ian or go to <www.vet.cornell.e du/news/dogflu> for more infor- mation. its facility and the vaccine. Vaccine will be provided to individuals 12 years of age and older. Since the cost is consid- ered a donation and is tax de- ductible, no insurance billing in- formation will be provided. For more information about the Essential Health Clinic, call 503/846-4919 or visit our web- site at <www.co.washington.or. us/essential> . Panel to speak about Diabetes, public welcome Diabetes is a silent disease that afflicts 17 million people in the U.S., many of whom don’t know they have it. It affects blood vessels throughout the body, and, over time, creates dysfunction in many organs, in- cluding the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also lead to heart disease and stroke. While there is still no cure for diabetes, people with the disease can prevent or delay serious health problems by un- derstanding their condition, seeking medical care, and learning to make healthy lifestyle choices. A panel of experts will be at Tuality Health Education Cen- ter on Saturday, October 29, from 9:00 a.m. to noon to dis- cuss medications, nutritional supplements, and other ques- tions. There will also be infor- mational booths in the lobby. No registration is required for this free event. Tuality Health Education Center is located at 334 SE 8th Avenue in Hillsboro. KARMEL’S FLOWER PATCH Come See us for Floral, Garden Baskets, House Plants, Balloons and Pumpkins 58176 Wilson Cut-off Rd., Vernonia 503-429-9273 Health Notes By Audeen Wagner Flu Shots. Flu season is approaching fast. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the vaccine will be available. It is still ques- tionable how much vaccine the local clinic will receive for their patients, but Cathy Rozinek, Clinic Manager in Vernonia, as- sures us that the shortage (if any) won’t be nearly as serious as last year. However, there are still some uncertainties, so it is wise to look elsewhere if possible, especial- ly those in the “at risk” category (see below). Flu shots will be available at special clinics set up in pharma- cies, churches, grocery stores, and other locations around the area. There are two locations in Columbia County: Sentry Market in Vernonia will have a flu shot clinic on Sunday, November 6, from noon to 6:00 p.m. The other location is the Red Apple Mar- ket in St. Helens, on Saturday, November 12. Cathy says if any- one has information on where they can get a shot, go ahead. “Be- cause there is more testing of vaccines this year before they are released, we may see some short supplies and delay,” she said. A place to check for flu shot clinics is <getaflushot.com>. They are listed by county. If clinic patients do get their shots elsewhere, the clinic staff would appreciate a call letting them know, so that they can docu- ment patient records. The vaccine will be given first, again this year, to those most at risk or most vulnerable. This includes people: • over the age of 65; • people with medical conditions and chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, AIDS or heart disease; • infants 6 months to two years; • nursing home residents; • adults working with the public, such as teachers and health care personnel; • and this year the Center for Disease Control even lists all those over 6 months old who were “displaced by a hurricane and currently living in crowded group settings, such as shelters.” There are other risk groups, also, so check with your caregiver if you think you are in one of those categories. What to expect with your flu shot? A common misconception of flu shots is that they could give you the flu. This is not true. There are occasionally side effects of the flu, such as soreness, redness or swelling, low grade fever, and some achiness, which are usu- ally minor and last only a day or two. Flu vaccination can cause severe allergic reactions, but this is extremely rare. The cost of flu shots varies, but seems to be around $25. Some insurances and Medicare cover part or all of the cost. Clinic patients who need flu shots should contact the Vernonia clinic for availability. Or, get your shot elsewhere, if possible, then let the clinic know. (Special thanks to Tory Wagner, who helped research and write this article.) Mammovan Schedule: The Tuality Mammovan will be in Ver- nonia on Wednesday, November 16. Call the clinic at 503-429- 9191 to schedule an appointment. Nicolay’s Spar Tree Featuring Mexican Food Still serving your favorites and Gloria’s homemade pies !! Call about delivery 503-429-0191 Tues -Thur 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Fri & Sat 8 a.m - 8 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m - 7 p.m. Closed Monday 62467 Nehalem Hwy. N, Vernonia