Flu shots, beans and cornbread hot item at senior fair

Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Anna Wood gets her blood pressure taken from Indiana Home Care Plus Lisa Poynter during the Putnam County Senior Health Fair Tuesday held at the fairgrounds.

Senior citizens turned out Tuesday at the fairgrounds to get flu shots and ham and beans during the annual Putnam County Senior Health Fair.

During the first hour over 100 seniors had gone through the line signing up for their flu shot, visiting vendors and picking up health information.

Besides information on all types of services for seniors, entertainment by Bluegrass performer Al Little, the Senior Center Line Dancers and the Hopes Way Bank all entertained those at the event.

A noon time lunch of ham, beans and cornbread, barbecue and ham and cheese sandwiches plus almost every type of desert imaginable were available.

"Last year we had over 1,000 people," said Putnam County Senior Center Director Jim Stevens. "We never know how many people will come through but we have plenty of information, food, shots and entertainment."

The annual event is designed to provide flu shots for seniors. Influenza is a viral infection that sickens millions of people each year and can cause serious complications, especially in children and older adults.

The Flu vaccine offers protection against the illness. Those who get a shot may still get the flu but should get a much less severe form of it and they have a decreased risk of flu-related complications--especially pneumonia, heart attack, stroke and death, all things for which older adults are especially vulnerable.

There are some big changes to the flu recommendations this year. One of the biggest is the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that now recommends all children between the age of 5 and 18 years of age should get a flu vaccine. Previously, it was only recommend high risk older children receive the shot.

The ACIP also says that anyone can get a flu vaccine, even if they are not high risk and kids can get their vaccine at any time during the flu season, although it is best to get it as early in the season as possible.

For more information about flu shots, contact your physician.

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