Health Officials To Launch Flu Clinics

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma health officials plan to begin offering flu shots at county health departments throughout the state.

The flu clinics will begin on Monday. The state Department of Health says getting vaccinated against the flu is the single best way to prevent it.

Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months. Pregnant women, children younger than 5 and people with asthma, diabetes, chronic heart and lung disease or other chronic conditions are encouraged to get the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that from 2005 through 2011, flu vaccinations prevented an estimated 13.6 million cases of influenza, an estimated 5.8 million medical visits and about 113,000 flu-related hospitalizations.

A wide variety of flu vaccines are available including one that protects against four flu strains.