Flu cases are still high. Here's where to get a flu vaccine.
Halfway through flu season, influenza cases are high compared to this time last year — but there's still time to get a flu vaccination.
Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District data shows that flu cases were on the rise from October through the second-to-last week of December, in line with state and national trends. The case count was down during the last week of the year, but that could be due to a dip in reporting over the holidays, public health director Fauzia Khan said.
Driscoll Children's Hospital saw 477 children with the flu visit the emergency room in December. Nine were admitted and hospitalized.
"We've had a number of children admitted to the hospital and some even to our intensive care unit, having to be put on life support," Driscoll Children's Hospital Dr. Mary Dale Peterson said.
Flu season typically peaks in winter, but can last into the spring.
"It's not too late for people to get vaccinated for flu," Peterson said.
Flu shots can be given to children older than 6 months. A nasal spray vaccine can be administered to children older than two.
Peterson said vaccinations are recommended for those at high risk of the flu, including older people and pregnant women.
"If anybody's ever had the flu, it's a lot more than a cold," Peterson said. "Some people have trouble even getting out of bed. There's severe body aches, vomiting and some people have respiratory symptoms as well."
Some of the young flu patients treated at the hospital have severe pneumonia or brain infections.
"It can be a really serious virus," Peterson said.
People who have been vaccinated can still get sick, but they're much less likely to develop severe symptoms or require hospitalization, Peterson said.
Khan and the public health district also recommends flu vaccinations.
"The flu vaccine is the safest and most cost-effective way to prevent flu and also complications from flu hospitalization," Khan said.
Where to get an influenza vaccination
The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District is holding no-cost flu vaccination clinics across the community throughout January.
10:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 8 at the Anita & W.T. Neyland Public Library
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Owen R. Hopkins Public Library
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia Public Library
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at La Retama Central Library
10-11:30 a.m. Jan. 23 at Janet F. Harte Public Library
1-4:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at a mobile clinic located at Robert Driscoll Elementary School
The public health district is also actively working with employers and organizations to offer flu vaccines to uninsured staff, as well as with local shelters.
The public health district offers no-cost vaccinations for eligible uninsured and underinsured children through the Texas Vaccines for Children Program and uninsured people of all ages at the main health district office at 1702 Horne Road, which is open from 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For people who have insurance and do not report a financial hardship, the cost for the flu vaccine at the public health district is $20.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Where to get a flu vaccine in Corpus Christi
