Flu Vaccine Schedules Are Available

Local hospitals are already reporting positive cultures for Influenza A and Influenza B. This year's vaccine also contains the H1N1 strain, so only one dose is required.

The City of Wilkes-Barre has posted its flu vaccine schedule. It can be found at:

http://www.wilkes-barre.pa.us/forms/flu_sch.pdf.

The Department of Veterans Affairs in Wilkes-Barre has its flu vaccine schedule posted at:

http://www.wilkes-barre.va.gov/news/flushots.asp


Other places to check are local stand-alone pharmacies and pharmacies in grocery or department stores. Appointments may be necessary.

Get Ready for Flu Season

Although the peak of the flu season is still a few months away, it's not too soon to start thinking about protecting yourself and loved ones against this potentially deadly disease.  Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu and everyone 6 months of age and older should be immunized as soon as the 2010-2011 season vaccine is available. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently came out with its recommendations for protecting children and teens during the upcoming season.

For more information about the disease, its prevention, and treatment, visit Flu.gov

Connecting Those at Risk to Care

Health Info NEPA lists free medical and dental clinics under Local Health Organizations. Those concerned with the healthcare needs of "at risk" persons in their communities may find this AHRQ publication very helpful because it provides a step-by-step guide for setting-up an infrastructure to:

• Find: Identify those at greatest risk
• Treat: Ensure that they receive needed evidence-based health and social services
• Measure: Document and evaluate benchmarks and final outcomes.

This infrastructure, termed Community "HUB,"promotes "... a system of collaboration, accountability, and improved outcomes."

Community Care Coordination Learning Network. Connecting those at risk to care: a guide to building a community "HUB" to promote a system of collaboration, accountability, and improved outcomes. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); September 2010. AHRQ Publication No.09(10)-0088.