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Free flu shots offered to seniors eligable for Medicare
By OBSERVER STAFF REPORTS
Health care professionals and insurance companies warn that winter, and therefore flu season, is right around the corner and seniors eligible for Medicare living in and around the Houston area should begin thinking about how they will prepare themselves against this deadly, yet preventable illness.
TexanPlus wants to help local seniors eligible for Medicare by offering a free flu shot to any senior who visits the company’s flu clinics. Seniors 65 years or older are encouraged to bring a senior friend with them to also receive the immunization.
In the United States, an estimated 25 to 50 million cases of the flu are reported each year, leading to 150,000 hospitalizations and 30,000 to 40,000 deaths yearly. Deaths of older adults account for more than 90 percent of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza.
The flu, or influenza, is caused by a virus that infects the respiratory system.
An estimated 25-50 million cases of the flu are reported each year – leading to 150,000 hospitalizations and 30,000-40,000 deaths yearly
Deaths of older adults account for more than 90 percent of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza.
The flu can be passed from person to person through coughing and sneezing, but the virus may also be picked up from contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs or telephone receivers.
Symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Nasal congestion
Body aches
Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke; it compromises your respiratory system.
Wash your hands often to avoid spreading germs.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when you, or someone nearby, coughs or sneezes.
Use rubbing alcohol to regularly clean surfaces that may spread the infection.
Get a flu shot each year; the best time to get a flu shot is from October through November.
Once people have the flu, they must usually wait while their body fights off the virus. However, there are ways to lessen the severity of symptoms:
Get plenty of rest.
Drink lots of liquids.
Take medicines, such as acetaminophen, to relieve aches, pains and fever.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone get a flu shot, but especially the following:
Anyone older than 50
Children 6-23 months old
Anyone who will be in contact with people at high risk for the flu and its complications
People who live or work in a nursing home
People with ongoing health problems, such as diabetes or heart, lung or kidney disease
Pregnant women who will be in their second or third trimester during the flu season.
Flu shots
WHEN: Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
WHO: senior citizens eligible for Medicare
WHAT: free flu shots
WHERE: Homewood Suites, 23320 Hwy. 59 N., Kingwood
TexanPlus wants to help local seniors eligible for Medicare by offering a free flu shot to any senior who visits the company’s flu clinics. Seniors 65 years or older are encouraged to bring a senior friend with them to also receive the immunization.
In the United States, an estimated 25 to 50 million cases of the flu are reported each year, leading to 150,000 hospitalizations and 30,000 to 40,000 deaths yearly. Deaths of older adults account for more than 90 percent of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza.
The flu, or influenza, is caused by a virus that infects the respiratory system.
An estimated 25-50 million cases of the flu are reported each year – leading to 150,000 hospitalizations and 30,000-40,000 deaths yearly
Deaths of older adults account for more than 90 percent of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza.
The flu can be passed from person to person through coughing and sneezing, but the virus may also be picked up from contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs or telephone receivers.
Symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Nasal congestion
Body aches
Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke; it compromises your respiratory system.
Wash your hands often to avoid spreading germs.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when you, or someone nearby, coughs or sneezes.
Use rubbing alcohol to regularly clean surfaces that may spread the infection.
Get a flu shot each year; the best time to get a flu shot is from October through November.
Once people have the flu, they must usually wait while their body fights off the virus. However, there are ways to lessen the severity of symptoms:
Get plenty of rest.
Drink lots of liquids.
Take medicines, such as acetaminophen, to relieve aches, pains and fever.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone get a flu shot, but especially the following:
Anyone older than 50
Children 6-23 months old
Anyone who will be in contact with people at high risk for the flu and its complications
People who live or work in a nursing home
People with ongoing health problems, such as diabetes or heart, lung or kidney disease
Pregnant women who will be in their second or third trimester during the flu season.
Flu shots
WHEN: Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
WHO: senior citizens eligible for Medicare
WHAT: free flu shots
WHERE: Homewood Suites, 23320 Hwy. 59 N., Kingwood
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