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Flu hospitalizations on the rise locally

JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times Influenza vaccines remain stocked at the Marietta/Belpre Health Department Tuesday in the midst of flu season.

In Southeast Ohio, 21 influenza-associated hospitalizations were recorded in the first week of January, up from the five recorded in the region over the final week of 2018.

Washington County saw five of those hospitalizations in the period of Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, the latest information available, and Noble County had another while Morgan and Monroe counties had none, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

But it’s not over yet, with 18 more weeks of flu season still to go.

“And since the flu is still circulating it’s never too late to get a flu shot,”Diane Drost, the nursing clerk with the Marietta/Belpre Health Department said Tuesday.

Typically the push for flu shots begins with each new school year and sees the most distribution by October each year, she said, citing a tapering off these last three months.

In September, the department administered 77 influenza vaccines.

In October, that jumped to an additional 1,094 vaccines administered.

Then in November, 100 vaccines were administered for influenza, followed by an additional 46 in December and thus far 20 in the new year.

“Flu vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent the flu which can lead to missed work and school, and cause other serious health complications,” said ODH Medical Director Dr. Clint Koenig, in a release. “Pregnant women, young children and people who already have serious medical conditions are especially at risk for serious complications from the flu.”

Registered Nurse Becky Jones, also with the city health department, echoed the state sentiment.

“Getting the shot doesn’t necessarily stop you from getting the flu so much as it lessens the impact and stops the other failures in your system,” she said. “Anybody with a compromised immune system is at a higher risk for complications that land you in the hospital.”

Across the state, there were 338 new hospitalizations in the first week of the new year and ODH is cautioning residents to prepare for more increases.

By mid-October, the cases were deemed “sporadic” with small numbers of hospitalizations from influenza being reported across the state, but now the virus is considered widespread.

To get a flu shot this season, stop into a local pharmacy or to an immunization clinic in Marietta or Belpre on the following days:

• Monday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 304 Putnam St., Marietta.

• Wednesday: 1-6 p.m. at 342 Muskingum Drive, Marietta.

• Friday:

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 342 Muskingum Drive, Marietta.

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 715 Park Drive, Belpre.

To get a flu shot this season, stop into your local pharmacy or to an immunization clinic in Marietta or Belpre on the following days:

• Monday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 304 Putnam St., Marietta.

• Wednesday: 1-6 p.m. at 342 Muskingum Drive, Marietta.

• Friday:

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 342 Muskingum Drive, Marietta.

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 715 Park Drive, Belpre.

Source: Times research.

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