Flu & Covid Season are upon us
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Flu Season
Flu season is here, which means if you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet it would be a good idea to go and get it. There are four different strands of the flu virus: A,B,C, and D. According to the Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) “Influenza A and B cause seasonal epidemics of disease in people (known as flu season) almost every winter in the United States”. Virus C infections don’t cause epidemics like A and B do but do generally cause mild illness, as for influenza D it mostly affects cattle and other animals but doesn’t affects humans. Deb Anderson from the Blaine County Health Department says to get your flu shot you can go to either the health department (420A Ohio St. in Chinook) or the clinic One Health in Chinook. Some symptoms of the flu are fevers/chills, coughing, sore throat, runny/stuffy noses, and body aches. The flu is considered a respiratory disease but it can affect your whole body, as each person experiences the symptoms differently people over the age of 65 are at higher risk of obtaining this disease as well as having complications whilst having the flu. Some of the best treatments for the flu consist of getting enough rest to help your immune system to fight the infection, your doctor may also prescribe you antivirals to prevent serious complications and make you feel better. The CDC says “The best way to reduce risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated every year.” Another way to prevent the flu making sure to disinfect everything and washing your hands.
Covid-19 Booster clinic
Coronavirus is a disease that was discovered in China in 2019 and shortened to Covid-19, and was first introduced to the U.S in January of 2020 and soon after caused a world wide pandemic, putting the world in lockdown at the end of March 2020. Everyone was encouraged to get a Covid-19 shot as well as boosters with it. As the pandemic officially ended in May of 2023 the world goes back to normal but not forgetting to take precautions in order to prevent another outbreak of the disease, that’s why clinics and hospitals all over are doing walk-in clinics for people to get their Covid-19 booster shots including Blaine County. On October 26th the Blaine county health department is doing a Covid-19 booster shot walk-in clinic from 9:00-11:30AM and 1:00-4:00PM, this event will take place at the Blaine County Health Department. They do ask for you to bring your insurance cards and masks are required to attend this clinic. If you are unable to make this event and you would still like to receive a booster shot you can call the Blaine County Health Department at (406) 357-2345 to schedule an appointment with the to receive the booster. Valarie Beck from the Health Department says “ I think it will be a good turn out with a handful of people”. Valarie Beck and the rest of the Health Department also ask that if you have had a Covid vaccine in the past that you bring that card with you so that they can establish if you are eligible to receive this shot due to the fact that each shot is 2 months apart. After the shot they ask you to wait in the waiting room 15 minutes after the shot in order to monitor you and be able to treat you in the rare event that there is a negative reaction to the vaccine.
