VNA preparing for busy flu season

VALPARAISO | The Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County is preparing for another busy flu shot season. Influenza (flu) is a serious disease of the nose, throat and lungs. It can make people sick for a week or longer with coughing, fever, aching and more. It can lead to pneumonia and make already existing health problems such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease worse. Each year in the U.S. about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

The VNA will host flu shot clinics open to the public from 3 to 6 p.m. every Monday in October and November at the VNA office at 2401 Valley Drive.. Handicapped parking is available at the north entrance. (ring the doorbell for wheelchair access.)

In addition, the VNA will host flu shot clinics open to the public at the following sites:

7:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 9 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1855 W. Harrison Blvd., Valparaiso

9 a.m. to noon Oct. 12 at Bonner Senior Center, 5800 Lexington Ave., Portage

8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14 at Banta Senior Center, 605 Beech St., Valparaiso

8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at First United Methodist Church, 103 N. Franklin St., Valparaiso

9 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19 at Hebron Community Center, 611 N. Main St., Hebron

9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 29 at Valparaiso Family YMCA, 1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive, Valparaiso

Flu shots cost $30 or presentation of a Medicare Part B card. Ticket numbers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at VNA flu shot clinic sites. The VNA is able to vaccinate people age 9 and older.

The FDA approved vaccine protects against the three viruses predicted by the Center for Disease Control to be circulating this year, the A/California (the H1N1 strain), A/Perth and B/Brisbane viruses.

For the past 18 years, the VNA, a nonprofit organization, has provided flu shot immunizations to residents, often staffed by nurses who volunteer their time as part of their contribution to community health.

For a complete list of flu shot clinics, check the VNA website at www.vnaportercounty.org, or the Flu Clinic Locator at www.vnaa.org. Or call VNA Flu Phone at (219) 531-8088 for additional updates and information.