2008 Woodie Awards
Children receive influenza shots
By: Maria Spicketts
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Dr. Robert Graham said every child who gets the flu will give it to 15 others.
"We hope to cut down on the number of flu cases," the medical director of the Central Michigan District Health Department said.
Kalee Curtis, 7, and her brother, Devin Curtis, 9, received flu shots Thursday as a part of CMDH's joint program with Central Michigan University's Physicians Assistant program.
The program was created especially for children, who are the biggest spreaders of influenza, Graham said.
"We were looking for ways to get students involved in public health," Graham said.
The Curtis children have been immunized before, said their mother Carri Curtis, but never before at the Health Department.
Dearborn graduate student Maya Harp administered their shots.
"I've done a few shots before, they were my first kids," she said. "You need to talk them down a bit more, distract them. Older people are used to getting this done."
After their shots, the children were given candy and other prizes as a reward.
"I was afraid," Kalee said, "But getting it (a stuffed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) and candy was worth it."
About 30 children were immunized Thursday at the CMDHD, 2012 E. Preston Road.
According to WebMd.com, November is the best month to get immunized because it is early in the flu season.
Children under 2 and people older than 65 are most susceptible, but it is possible for students and other young adults to contract the virus, the Web site said.
"Students that live in dorms, (living in) those close quarters put them at high risk for getting the flu, they should all consider getting flu shots," Graham said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 5 to 20 percent of U.S. residents contract the flu.
Flu shots at CMDHD cost $20, and are also available for $25 at the University Health Services.
news@cm-life.com
"We hope to cut down on the number of flu cases," the medical director of the Central Michigan District Health Department said.
Kalee Curtis, 7, and her brother, Devin Curtis, 9, received flu shots Thursday as a part of CMDH's joint program with Central Michigan University's Physicians Assistant program.
The program was created especially for children, who are the biggest spreaders of influenza, Graham said.
"We were looking for ways to get students involved in public health," Graham said.
The Curtis children have been immunized before, said their mother Carri Curtis, but never before at the Health Department.
Dearborn graduate student Maya Harp administered their shots.
"I've done a few shots before, they were my first kids," she said. "You need to talk them down a bit more, distract them. Older people are used to getting this done."
After their shots, the children were given candy and other prizes as a reward.
"I was afraid," Kalee said, "But getting it (a stuffed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) and candy was worth it."
About 30 children were immunized Thursday at the CMDHD, 2012 E. Preston Road.
According to WebMd.com, November is the best month to get immunized because it is early in the flu season.
Children under 2 and people older than 65 are most susceptible, but it is possible for students and other young adults to contract the virus, the Web site said.
"Students that live in dorms, (living in) those close quarters put them at high risk for getting the flu, they should all consider getting flu shots," Graham said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 5 to 20 percent of U.S. residents contract the flu.
Flu shots at CMDHD cost $20, and are also available for $25 at the University Health Services.
news@cm-life.com
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