Free Children and Young Adult’s Influenza Vaccination Clinic
September 28, 2018
The Yankton County and Bon Homme County Offices of Emergency Management, through their local Point of Dispensing (POD) committee, are holding a free children and young adult’s influenza vaccination clinic Tuesday October 16th 2018 from 2pm to 7pm.
The Influenza vaccine distribution will double as a full-scale exercise of the local and regional POD plan, part of a larger local emergency operation plan. Influenza vaccine will be available for children from ages six months to 18 years. In addition, all Mount Marty students and volunteers who help at this POD will be eligible as well while supplies last.
The clinic will be held at Roncalli Main Dining room at Mount Marty College, 1105 W 8th Street in Yankton.
For children under 18, parental consent forms are required. They will be
distributed through the Yankton School District web site at
https://www.ysd.k12.sd.us/apps/news/article/917197 Or it can be obtained on the Yankton County Office of Emergency Management web site at http://www.co.yankton.sd.us/custom/emergency-management. In addition, consent forms will also be available on site the day of the clinic.
Please be advised that South Dakota has historically ranked at the top of the nation in regard to the percentage of residents vaccinated for influenza. We also know that vaccination clinics like this are necessary to ensure we reach populations that are more at risk for influenza. The Yankton and Bon Homme POD committee would like to thank Mount Marty College for their partnership in this important event.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook #YanktonCountyEmergencyManagement or on Twitter @YanktonCoEM.
If you have questions or want more information, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at 605-668-5289.
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Influenza fact sheet
The Yankton and Bon Homme County Offices of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Health, are holding a free children’s influenza vaccination clinic Tuesday October 16th 2018 from 2pm to 7pm, at Roncalli Main Dining room at Mount Marty College, 1105 W 8th Street in Yankton.
Free influenza vaccine will be available for children from six months to 18 years old. In addition, all Mount Marty students and volunteers who help at this POD will be eligible as well while supplies last. For children under 18, parental consent forms are required. They will be distributed through the Yankton School District web site at ttps://www.ysd.k12.sd.us/apps/news/article/917197 Or it can be obtained on the Yankton County Office of Emergency Management web site at http://www.co.yankton.sd.us/custom/emergency-management. In addition, consent forms will also be available on site the day of the clinic.
Influenza can be more serious than the common cold. It can lead to serious complications, including hospitalization or death. CDC estimates that since 2010, flu- related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years have ranged from 7,000 to 26,000 in the United States.
• A flu shot can keep your child from getting sick with flu.
• Since 2004-2005, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular flu seasons have ranged from a low of 37 deaths (2011-2012) to 172 deaths (2017-2018).
• Children, especially school-aged children, are more likely to catch the flu. Millions of children get sick with flu every season. A typical flu illness can mean missing a week or more of school. Once infected, children can spread the flu to parents and siblings, other family members, and friends.
• Vaccinating your child protects people around them (like grandparents, babies or anyone with long-term health problems) who are more vulnerable to flu.
• Children with certain long-term health conditions (like asthma or diabetes) and all children younger than 5 years are at high risk of serious illness when they get the flu.
• Flu vaccine is not perfect. Some vaccinated people may still get sick, but if they do, flu vaccine may make their illness milder.
• Flu vaccines are among the safest medical products in use. Hundreds of millions of people have safely gotten flu vaccines for more than 50 years. There may be mild side effects from getting vaccinated, but these are so much less of a problem than getting sick with the flu!
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Anyone interested in volunteering to help make the influenza clinic a success can go to the South Department of Health web site to sign up: https://volunteers.sd.gov/index.php Helper are needed
We are looking for people to assist in all areas of the Point of Distribution exercise. Examples: Greeters, Runners, Vaccinator, Handing Forms, Licensed Medical Professionals, Command Staff helpers, and other positions.
Contact: Cherie Hoffman, Public Information Officer Yankton County Office of Emergency Management 605-668-5289 office 605-661-1820 cell yktncoem@iw.net