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Avoid the Flu Blues: It's Time for Seasonal Flu Vaccines

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 October 2009, 07:53 CDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fare, Felpausch, Glen's and VG's neighborhood stores are pleased to announce beginning October 2, they will be providing seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccinations. This provides convenient locations for area residents to receive low cost seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccinations and educational materials. See stores for schedule.

"We urge area residents to take advantage of this low-cost community service and protect themselves against both influenza and pneumonia," said Eddie Garcia, director of pharmacy for Spartan Stores. "According to the Centers for Disease Control, the single best way to protect against the seasonal flu is to get your vaccination each year."

The cost of a seasonal flu shot is $25 while pneumonia vaccine, available at select locations only, is available for a $50 charge. Participants may pay with cash, check or money order. Medicare part B is also accepted unless the participant has a supplement insurance provider. Summit Health is administering seasonal flu shots and pneumonia vaccines.

Who Should Get the Seasonal Flu Vaccine?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/; in general, anyone who wants to reduce the chances of getting the flu should get vaccinated every year. Annual vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or people who live with or care for high-risk individuals:

People who are at high risk for complications from seasonal flu should get a seasonal flu vaccine each year are:

• Children 6 months through 18 years of age,
  

• Pregnant women,
  

• People 50 years of age and older,
  

• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and
  

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
  

People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from seasonal flu should get a seasonal flu vaccine each year are:

• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above),
  

• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated), and
  

• Healthcare workers.
  

The flu and pneumonia vaccinations are not recommended for anyone with egg, chicken or feather allergies.

If you have any questions regarding the 2009 seasonal flu vaccination, please consult your physician. In order to ensure the safety of each customer, Summit Health registered nurses will provide appropriate health screenings prior to administering any vaccines at D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fare, Felpausch, Glen's and VG's stores.

The timing and duration of flu seasons vary. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later. The flu usually spreads from person-to-person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks and the virus is transmitted into the air. Unlike many other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. Each year in the United States on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

Summit Health was founded in 1999 by Richard Penington and Doug Finch, to address a need for high quality, low cost, preventative health services provided on a nationwide basis. Since then, Summit Health has grown at an annual rate of 45 percent. We now have more than 6,000 staff nationwide, and count the country's largest health plans and Fortune 100 corporations among our customer base.

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq: SPTN) is the nation's tenth largest grocery distributor with warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan. The Company distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to approximately 350 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Spartan Stores also owns and operates 99 retail supermarkets in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, Felpausch Food Centers and VG's Food and Pharmacy.

SOURCE Spartan Stores

Source: PR Newswire

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