Published on September 07, 2010

Genesis Fights Flu With Protection, Prevention And Information

Protection against seasonal influenza and pneumonia will be available at more than 30 Genesis VNA public flu vaccination clinics in the region beginning Sept. 20. 

Genesis will again take the lead in the Flu-Free Quad Cities initiative by vaccinating 9,000 or more elementary school children against the flu. The voluntary project offers free seasonal influenza shots to elementary age children throughout the region. 
 
Prevention and information will be available throughout the influenza season at www.genesishealth.com/flu. The web site has prevention tips, videos, seasonal flu information in Spanish, information about the Flu-Free Quad Cities initiative and links to governmental flu resources, including the county health departments, Iowa and Illinois health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
Genesis will also have updates on its flu web site and on its Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages throughout the fall and winter. Flu information hotlines with up-to-date information about upcoming public flu shot clinics will be available at (563) 421-5522 (Quad Cities area) or (563) 244-4957 (Clinton County).
 
"Vaccination, prevention and staying informed are three excellent ways to prevent the spread of seasonal flu in our communities this flu season,’’ said Jim Lehman, M.D., Vice President of Quality, Genesis Health System. "And, through our Flu-Free Quad Cities initiative and public flu clinics, we hope to limit the exposure to flu for thousands of Quad Cities families.’’
 
Last year, more than 9,400 elementary school students in the region received free seasonal flu vaccinations through the Flu-Free Quad Cities initiative. Free flu vaccinations will again be available from Genesis VNA and Hospice at area elementary schools later this fall. Parents of elementary school children in those districts will receive information from their schools about the dates of vaccinations. Parents will be given the option of paying $12 for their child's vaccination, but payment will be optional.
 
There are two important changes in the Genesis flu plan for the public this season. The first is that the seasonal flu vaccine for 2010 will also provide protection for the H1N1 strain in a single vaccination. 
 
Second, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending an earlier start to the vaccination season.
 
The first scheduled Genesis public flu clinic will be Sept. 20 at First Congregational United Church of Christ in DeWitt with clinics scheduled Sept. 21 at the Hy-Vee at 3019 Rockingham Road in Davenport and the Church of the Open Door, 816 13th Ave. N, in Clinton. 
 
If you are not covered by Medicare, there will be a $35 cash cost for each flu immunization with a $5 discount for payment by cash or check. The cost for pneumonia immunization is $40. Medicare Part B covers flu and pneumonia immunizations. Anyone with Medicare Part B coverage can present their card at any Genesis public flu clinic and Genesis VNA will file the claims.
 
According to the CDC, anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with the flu or spreading flu to others should get a seasonal flu shot.

People in the following groups should get the seasonal vaccine each year are:

• Children aged 6 months and up
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
  • Health care workers
  • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
  • Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (these children are at higher risk of flu-related complications).