Public urged to get vaccinated against flu this week, through January
National Influenza Vaccination Week ends Dec. 8, and the City of El Paso Department of Public Health wants some of the most vulnerable in our community to get vaccinated.
“We want to encourage our community members to get vaccinated because every year thousands of children and adults must be hospitalized due to complications related to influenza,” said Alejandra Rodarte, Public Health Supervisor, in a news release.
In addition to seniors, pregnant women, and adults with underlying medical conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers children younger than 5 years of age part of the high risk group when it comes to the flu.
The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older be vaccinated annually against the flu. It created the week in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.
During the 2017-2018 flu season, the CDC estimates that the flu caused 49 million flu illnesses – more than the combined populations of Texas and Florida; 960,000 flu hospitalizations and 79,000 deaths.
The flu vaccine is available at the following locations:
Ysleta – 110 Candelaria Rd.
Henderson – 721 S. Mesa St.
Central – 5115 El Paso Dr. Suite B room 1
Appointments can be made by calling: 915-212-6555.
The El Paso Fire Department is also encouraging the community to take advantage of the Vaccinations for Health program.
Vaccinations for Health provides free flu vaccines to patients ages 18 and older, along with free blood pressure and glucose screenings to patients of any age and free pneumonia vaccines to those 65 and older.
Here are the scheduled dates for the clinics:
Wednesday, December 5: EPFD Safety Health and Outreach Center, 5415 ​Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Tuesday, December 11: Fire Station 18, 7901 San Jose from 3:00PM to 6:00PM
Wednesday, December 12: EPFD Safety Health and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Wednesday, December 19: EPFD Safety Health and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Wednesday, January 9: EPFD Safety Health and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Wednesday, January 16: EPFD Safety Health and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Thursday, January 17: Fire Station 26, 9418 N Loop Drive from 3:00PM to 6:00PM
Wednesday, January 23: EPFD Safety Health and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Wednesday, January 30: EPFD Safety Health and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
The service is free to residents of El Paso and Hudspeth County who don’t have medical insurance or are on Medicaid.
For more information, residents are encouraged to call 3-1-1 or visit health.elpasofire.org and salud.elpasofire.org for Spanish.
