Get a flu shot and spread holiday cheer

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

This holiday season, spread cheer, not germs. Carson City Health and Human Services encourages everyone who has not yet been vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones during the holiday season by getting a flu shot. National Influenza Immunization Week runs from Dec. 8-14 and is a great opportunity to remind people that flu vaccinations are beneficial and effective even if they are received in December and January.

For millions of people each year, the flu can bring a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and miserable days spent in bed instead of at work or school. The best way to prevent illness caused by the flu virus is by getting vaccinated. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a yearly flu vaccination. The Health Department encourages everyone to get flu vaccinations, especially those who may be at high risk of complications from the flu, including children younger than 5, adults 65 years of age and older, and pregnant women.

The Health Department is excited to announce two opportunities that make it easy for everyone to get vaccinated. Kick off National Influenza Immunization Week with us at the Downtown Wine Walk on Saturday. Support your immune system and local businesses at this fun event. Stroll through downtown and tackle some holiday shopping while you sip on wine offerings along the way. Before you head home, visit us in the High Sierra Room at the Carson Nugget to get your free flu vaccine. We’ll be there from 1-5 p.m.

If you can’t make it on Saturday, we will once again be offering our popular Food for Flu food drive in celebration of National Influenza Immunization Week. Protect yourself from flu while helping the less fortunate in our community. Simply bring two cans of food to the Health Department Dec. 9-13 and get your free flu shot on the spot. Walk-ins are welcome from 9-11 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. This is the third year for this event, and all food collected will be donated to Friends in Service Helping.

For more information about other Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or visit us at www.facebook.com/cchhs.