The influenza virus is widespread in the Philadelphia region and throughout most of the country; Montgomery County expands free vaccination hours.
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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 …
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 …
