Fire department extends flu vaccine distribution
The city continues to drive home the message about the importance of vaccinating against the flu as the number of flu cases spikes since the beginning of the year.
Since the start of the flu season in October of 2018 until the third week of February 2019, 7,882 cases of the potentially deadly virus have been diagnosed in El Paso, according to data collected by the El Paso Health Department. That number is down from the last flu season, which had recorded 11,054 cases in that same time frame.
But the number of cases for those three weeks in February is already on track to meet or surpass the diagnosed cases in all of January.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers December and January to be peak flu season months, but the season stretches into May.
See the number of diagnosed flu cases nationwide this season
That’s why the El Paso Fire Department announced it will continue to give out free flu shots to those who qualify during its Vaccinations for Health program.
“Even though peak season’s over, you still have flu season that’s around,” Gustavo Tavarez, the interim chief of the fire department’s medical services, said to ABC-7 on Monday. “You still have individuals that are being impacted by the flu. So, we want to make sure we protect those individuals by offering flu vaccines.”
Three people have died from the flu this season, according to data from the El Paso Department of Health.
The fire department purchased 1,400 flu vaccines to distribute to the public for free.
It has about 200 left, Tavarez said.
The clinics are the next three Wednesdays of the month at the EPFD’s Safety Health and Outreach Center at 5415 Trowbridge.
Wednesday, March 6, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 20, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Vaccinations for Health also provides free blood pressure and glucose screenings to patients of any age, free flu vaccines to patients 18 and older, and free pneumonia vaccines to those 65 and older. The service is free to residents of El Paso and Hudspeth County who do not have medical insurance or Medicaid, according to a news release from the department.
In addition to the flu vaccine, public health officials remind the public to practice the four C’s in order to help reduce infection: clean your hands with soap and water; cover your cough with a tissue or in the crook of your elbow; contain germs by steering clear of others who are sick; and call or see your doctor if you or your child has a fever greater than 100 degrees.
Call 311 for more information about the vaccination clinics or go to the Fire Department’s website .
