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Influenza

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Mayor Urges Boston Residents To Get Flu Shots

City health officials want "thousands" to get vaccinated this weekend.

Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston health officials are asking residents of all ages to get flu vaccinations this weekend, during a series of free clinics set up to battle what Menino declared as a “public health emergency.” During a press conference held Wednesday afternoon at Parkman House on Beacon Hill, Menino urged residents to protect themselves against “an increasingly tough flu season” by getting vaccinated. “We are less than halfway through the flu season, but Boston has already seen about 700 confirmed cases of the flu since Oct. 1. That’s 10 times the amount of total cases we saw all of last year,” Menion said. “Today, we are announcing that this weekend in partnership with our community health centers, we will be offering free flu …

Friday, November 30, 2012

Have You Had Your Flu Shot Yet?

Whether you are a regular to the flu vaccine or an “I never get it” kind of reader, the total vaccine story may not be one you’ve ever stopped to investigate.

"What are your thoughts on the flu vaccine?" is a question I am asked daily. It truly comes down to informed consent and personal philosophy. We live in a country with much propaganda for vaccines. I was checking out at Rite Aid this week and I heard the cashiers asking all the customers if they had received the flu shot yet.  If someone responded with “No,” the employee would say “our pharmacy has them and it is free with your insurance, you really need to get one so you won’t get the flu.” … and a column was born. At this time of year everyone in the family over 6 months old is encouraged to have the influenza vaccine. This recommendation is about 12 years old. Before then, only those 65 and over and very ill people were encouraged to be…

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