CareVan protects residents from flu

DUPAGE COUNTY—Once again this year, the DuPage County Health Department is partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois to use its CareVan mobile facility to help protect DuPage County residents from the flu and other illnesses.

The CareVan will be used by the health department during October to offer flu shots to employees in DuPage County daycare facilities. These employees often have no access to flu shots or other immunizations and they come in daily contact with children who are too young to receive flu shots.

The immunizations that are offered will help protect staff members and the children they serve from influenza, pertussis and other diseases.

The people who received these shots last year were very grateful since many of them lacked health insurance and had never received immunizations.

Nearly 50 daycare centers were visited in 2010. The CareVan also visited an area homeless shelter to reach another segment of the population that is extremely vulnerable to the flu.

Last year, the health department vaccinated 700 individuals who otherwise would not have had access to such care. Similar plans are in place for 2011.

For more information on the DuPage County Health Department, follow it on Twitter @DuPageHD or become a fan on Facebook.