Tillamook, Ore.— With influenza season rolling around, it’s time for flu shots. Vaccines ae a covered benefit for most insurance plans and Columbia Pacific CCO members on the Oregon Health Plan.
Did you know?
You can get influenza, no matter what your age.
Getting influenza can land you in the hospital.
If you have certain health conditions, the flu can lead to serious complications.
Unlike other vaccines, you need a flu shot every year.
People who get a flu shot are less likely to get sick.
People who do get the flu after having a flu shot recover faster than those who haven’t been vaccinated.
You may know all that, because that message about getting the flu shot for influenza is the same from year to year. Influenza keeps coming back.
“That’s why it’s so important to get a flu shot every fall,” says Safina Koreishi, MD, Columbia Pacific CCO medical director. “It’ll give you a better chance of staying well, or helping you avoid the more serious complications if you do get sick. And just as important, if you have the flu shot you are less likely to pass the flu on to loved ones who, for one reason or another, can’t get a flu shot, like newborn babies.”
Most health plans, including the Oregon Health Plan, will provide the flu shot at no additional cost to you, which makes it a real bargain.
Tillamook County Community Health Centers will be holding flu shot clinics throughout the county, go to their website https://tillamookchc.org/flu-clinics/.
This year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that nearly everyone older than six months should get a flu shot.
People who are at high risk of complications from influenza include:
Children younger than 2 years
Seniors age 65 and older
American Indians and Alaska Natives
People with certain chronic health conditions, including Asthma, Heart disease, Parkinson’s, Diabetes
Weakened immune systems due to HIV, AIDS or cancer
People who use tobacco also get influenza more easily and are sicker when they get it.
“Getting a flu shot should be part of your regular health care calendar, just like getting a wellness visit with your doctor and a dental visit with your dentist,” Dr. Koreishi says. “It’s your best protection during the flu and cold season that happens every winter.”
Resources
Centers for Disease Control: Key facts about flu
Flu Vaccine Finder website
211info.org
Oregon Tobacco Quit Line at 800-quit-now (800-784-8669) or quitnow.net/Oregon
Columbia Pacific CCO resources for quitting tobacco
CareOregon seasonal flu tips
About Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization
Established in September 2012, Columbia Pacific CCO coordinates health services for more than 24,000 Oregon Health Plan members in Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties. For more information, please visit www.colpachealth.org.
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