Friday, April 5, 2013
Free vaccines remain available from the county; 11 people have died from the flu in Montgomery County this flu season.
Montgomery County is approaching the end of one of the more severe flu seasons on record, but it's not over yet, said Mike Baysinger, deputy director of personal health services for the county health department. "Pennsylvania is still considered [to have] regional [flu] activity," Baysinger said Thursday at a meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. "We've peaked early, but flu season is not over yet. Flu vaccines are still available [from the county]." According to Baysinger, the county recorded 1,600 cases of influenza during this flu season. 287 people were hospitalized for influenza, and 11 people died. "It was almost as bad as when H1N1, swine flu, hit in 2009," Baysinger said. The county recorded about 2,200 cases of …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Don't run to the pharmacy: The best cold and flu remedies can be whipped up right at home.
I'm 32 with a child of my own, but every time I get sick, I still want my mommy. There's just something about mommies that make us feel better when we're not feeling well; it's magic, the kind you can never find on the shelves at your CVS. How do you know if it's a cold or the flu? The symptoms can be very similar, from nasal congestion and cough to exhaustion and achiness. If you're running a fever above 101 degrees, you probably have the flu. The common cold rarely presents with a fever. You'll usually have to endure a cold for about a week, while a flu virus could hang around from a few days to a few weeks.. While you're in the throes of your particular bug, give some of these homemade remedies a try. (This advice is not intended to …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Four dead in Montgomery County; the most recent was a 26-year-old Lansdale man, who died at Abington Memorial Hospital.
- NEWS
-
Thursday, January 17
The influenza outbreak in Montgomery County has claimed its fourth and youngest victim of the flu season. 26-year-old Andrew Pogoda died Jan. 3 at Abington Memorial Hospital, according to WTXF FOX 29 [link goes to video report]. Pogoda suffered from asthma, which complicated doctors' efforts to help him recover from the illness. The other three victims of the flu in Montgomery County have been among the elderly. Health officials have recommended that everyone over the age of six months be vaccinated. Montgomery County health officials recently expanded the hours for free vaccination at sites around the county. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported earlier this week that 40 people have died from influenza-related causes in the …
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The influenza virus is widespread in the Philadelphia region and throughout most of the country; Montgomery County expands free vaccination hours.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Saturday, January 12
After last year's mildest flu season on record, influenza has returned with a vengeance. A "moderately severe outbreak" of "old-fashioned influenza" is filling emergency rooms across the region and the country. According to Dr. William Schaffner, Chair of the Department of Preventative Medicine at Vanderbilt University, this year's influenza outbreak began on the East Coast in November and quickly spread westward. The Philadelphia region, among other East Coast metropolitan areas, "is having a harder time" with the flu than many other parts of the country, Schaffner said in an interview with the Huffington Post. At Lehigh Valley Hospital, medical officials opened a "flu tent" outside the emergency room to handle the overflow. "If you …
Monday, December 3, 2012
The county health department is providing free immunizations in Norristown, Pottstown, and Willow Grove.
- NEWS
-
Monday, December 3, 2012
Haven't gotten that flu shot yet? Fret not – the Montgomery County Health Department can get your T-cells and B-cells buzzing to protect you against this season's influenza strains. And they'll do it for free. Though young children and the elderly are most at risk, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone six months or older get a flu shot. According to the health department, seasonal influenza activity peaks between January and March. It takes about one to two weeks to build immunity after receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine, so those who haven't received the vaccine are encouraged to do so through February. Except for between December 24 and January 1, free immunizations will be available at the following locations …
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Flu season typically begins in October and can run through May. Find out what you need to know to protect yourself and your family.
Flu shots have never been easier to receive. Vaccinations are readily available in Montgomery County this flu season, even for people on the go, who might not have time to schedule a visit to the doctor's office. Get vaccinated at grocery stores like Giant and Acme, pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, Walmart, Target. You can even get your flu shot at one of Montgomery County Health Department's free clinics, including one this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Montgomery County Community College. But, are you guaranteed to get the flu if you don’t get vaccinated against it? Of course not—but here’s why getting a flu vaccine just might be worth your while. Influenza, or the "flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Health officials say two new strains of influenza are circulating during this flu season. Vaccination is recommended for everyone older than six months.
Okay, so you didn't get sick with the flu last year. Good for you. Don't get cocky. That's the message from both federal and local health officials as this year's influenza season gets underway. Though last year's flu season was the mildest on record, two new strains have appeared this year. Though young children and the elderly are most at risk, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone six months or older get a flu shot. Starting Saturday, Montgomery County is offering several free flu shot clinics at locations around the county. The flu shots are free to county residents and are expected to offer protection against the currently circulating strains of the influenza virus. Below are the clinic dates and locations: All …
Ronald Heart
4:10 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
This is really good information. When I am feeling sick I find that a hot toddy does the trick usually. But a few weeks ago I was really sick and nothing seemed to work. I was glad I could just pick up the phone and call a doctor. They were able to call in a prescription for me to the pharmacy. MD247 more ›