Flu facts

From the Logan County Department of Public Health

[January 05, 2011]  Getting the flu can cause serious problems when you are pregnant. Even if you are generally healthy, changes in immune, heart and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to get seriously ill from the flu. Pregnant women who get the flu are at higher risk of hospitalization, and even death, than non-pregnant women. Severe illness in the pregnant mother can also be dangerous to her fetus because it increases the chance for serious problems such as premature labor and delivery.

If you are pregnant, you should get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible. The flu shot given during pregnancy has been shown to protect both the mother and her baby (up to 6 months old) from flu.

The combined seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine is available at the Logan County Department of Public Health for anyone 6 months of age and older through walk-in clinic hours Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., or on the HOPE Mobile during its regularly scheduled stops.

For more information on the seasonal influenza vaccine, call the Logan County Department of Public Health at 217-735-2317.

For more information, visit www.flu.gov and www.lcdph.org.

[Text from file received from the Logan County Department of Public Health]

Announcement sponsored by the Logan County Department of Public Health and the Pandemic Influenza Community Coalition.