McHenry County flu shots slated

McHenry County Department of Health has received its flu vaccine for children through the state-funded Vaccines for Children Program. Flu clinics have been scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 and 8 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21 at MCDH's Annex B building on the Government Center campus, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock. Evening appointments are available at regularly scheduled flu clinics.

The VFC Program is the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention's largest public-private partnership, ensuring that all eligible children receive the benefits of newly recommended vaccines, thereby strengthening immunity levels in their communities. Flu vaccinations are recommended for all children aged 6 months until their 19th birthday with these conditions: receiving long-term aspirin therapy, chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma, required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the past year because of chronic metabolic diseases, renal dysfunction, or immunodeficiency and chronic conditions that may compromise a respiratory function.

Other individuals recommended for flu vaccination include household contacts of infants less than 6 months of age and household contacts with medical conditions that put them at higher risk. Eligible children include All Kids/Public Aid recipients, families without insurance, and underinsured families whose children are medically at-risk as defined above. FluMist is available for children over the age of 2. Call MCDH at (815) 334-4536 to make an appointment. The cost is $12.