Bucks County Blog

Bucks County Commissioners, Health Dept. Emphasize National Influenza Vaccination Week

November 29th, 2007

Each year in the United States, an average of 36,000 individuals die from the effects of influenza, and another 200,000 are hospitalized due to flu complications. In conjunction with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Bucks County Health Department, Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq., and Sandra A. Miller encourage all county residents who are eligible to receive an inoculation.

“This week is intended to highlight the significance of updating your flu shot,” Chairman Martin noted. “It is extremely important that we continue to stress greater use of flu vaccine as prescribed by the CDC guidelines.”

Through the county’s second annual Pandemic Flu Drill – a medical and non-medical emergency preparedness volunteer exercise staged Oct. 27 at four locations throughout Bucks – 4,201 flu shots were issued within a four-hour period. Over the last two years, Health Dept. officials provided more than 7,200 flu shots through the Pandemic Flu Drill’s unique points of distribution (or POD’s).
Children comprise a particularly vulnerable demographic with regard to effects of the flu. Each year, over 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized. “Children’s Flu Vaccination Day” is recognized nationally today, Nov. 27.  The day is an awareness tool to educate the public about the value of vaccinating children – especially high-risk children and those with whom they come into close contact.

To that end, the Health Dept. offers these upcoming children’s immunization clinics. Please call to schedule an appointment.

Doylestown, 1282 Almshouse Rd., Dec. 10 & 17, phone: 215-345-3344
Quakertown, 515 South West End Blvd., Dec. 4 & 18, phone: 215-536-6500
Levittown, 7321 New Falls Rd., Dec. 3, 10 & 17, phone: 215-949-5805

Entry Filed under: Bucks County News