West Sacramento, CA (MPG) - Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman urges people in Yolo County to get the flu vaccine.

“The flu vaccine not only protects you against a terrible infection, but also protects your family and friends,” said Yolo County Health Officer Ron Chapman, MD, MPH. “Children, pregnant women, and seniors are most vulnerable to the flu. You can keep them safe by getting the vaccine and encouraging them to get the vaccine. Please help protect your community this flu season; get the vaccine.”

Each year, flu causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and thousands of deaths in the United States. Flu can cause severe disease across all ages. According to the recent California Influenza Surveillance Report, there were 78 influenza-associated deaths reported in persons under 65 years of age in California during the 2014-15 influenza season. To reduce this threat, Dr. Chapman recommends the annual flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older, including pregnant women.

Common symptoms of the flu include fever or feeling feverish, a cough and/or sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, chills, fatigue and body aches. To stop the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses, get the flu vaccine, stay home when sick, cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Yolo County offers the flu vaccine during a West Sacramento special event on November 2^nd from 2 to 5 p.m. at Health & Human Services, 500B Jefferson Blvd. If you can’t make the clinic, check with your health care provider about obtaining the vaccine.

Source: Yolo County