The Marion County Health Department and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will team up to offer free flu shots for the entire family Thursday, Nov. 6, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., at the museum located at 3000 N. Meridian St. The shots are part of the museum’s monthly free night.
Flu shots are encouraged for every member of the family. Flu shots taken now will offer protection from the flu. “Anyone who wants protection from the flu can receive either a shot or flu mist vaccine. We encourage everyone to be vaccinated this year,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D., director, Marion County Health Department.
For those wary of getting a shot, flu mist will be available. In fact, the flu mist is now available for those from two years of age to 59, except women who are pregnant.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) those who should receive a flu shot each year include:
• Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
• Health care workers
• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).
“It is very important that our community protect itself from the flu. By offering the vaccine at no charge and having it at a great facility like the Children’s Museum, we want to encourage all of our families to come and take part in this event,” Caine said.
Caine also reminds local residents about the importance of good hand washing as an effective means to reduce the exposure and spread of the flu.
Hand Washing Remains Best Step in Fighting Colds and Flu
Did you wash your hands? It’s a question we are used to asking our children, but it is a question we should constantly ask ourselves. Hand washing remains the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others.
As children and adults, our hands carry millions of microbes. Most are harmless, but many cause illnesses such as colds and flu.
We can also pick up germs from objects and surfaces, such as doorknobs and stair railings touched by other people who are not properly washing their hands. Think about all the things you touch each day and how many people may have touched them before you. It’s easy for a germ on your hands to end up in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.
When we do not wash our hands properly, we spread these germs to other people, or give them to ourselves by touching our eyes, mouths, noses or open wounds on our bodies.
So when are the best times to wash your hands?
• Before and after eating, cooking or touching food
• After using the bathroom
• After blowing your nose or coughing
• After touching pets or other animals
• After playing outside
• After visiting a sick relative or friend
How long should it take to effectively wash your hands?
Effective hand washing takes 20 seconds, or about the time it takes to sing two choruses of “Happy Birthday.”
