Marshfield Clinic has reached a milestone by providing 75,000 influenza vaccinations for the 2007-08 flu season for both adult and pediatric patients.

“We’re concerned about the health of our communities, which is why we’re reaching out with efforts such as influenza vaccine clinics at our centers and at other places within the communities we serve,” said Eva Scheppa, R.N., Clinical Services manager, Family Health Center, Marshfield Clinic.

Each year, 5-20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu, over 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Usually those people are elderly, young children or have health conditions putting them at risk for flu complications like pneumonia.

The respiratory flu spreads person to person in droplets from coughing and sneezing. Sometimes just by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching the mouth or nose could spread the infection as well. A person could infect others beginning a day before experiencing symptoms to up to five days after becoming sick.

In addition to providing flu shot clinics at many Marshfield Clinic centers and community locations throughout October, November and December, Marshfield Clinic Occupational Health staff members have increased the number of businesses visited to provide workers with influenza vaccinations.

“Employers absolutely love the service because it brings the medical care directly to the employees, many of whom would not otherwise take the time to be immunized,” said Donna Stone, R.N., System Clinical Operations manager, Marshfield Clinic Occupational Health. “This service for businesses would not have been possible, however, without the efforts of all Marshfield Clinic Occupational Health team members.”

This year, Marshfield Clinic Occupational Health provided flu vaccine services to 120 employers and gave over 4,300 injections.

“Our primary source for business referrals has been direct contact from our employer groups; however, we did see a significant increase with Security Health Plan endorsing on-site flu clinics to its customers this year as a preventative service,” Stone said.

The best way to avoid the flu is prevention – with the first and most important step being an annual flu shot. Good hand hygiene practices and covering your coughs and sneezes can prevent spread of the illness. Hand washing takes much more than rinsing under cold water. It is critical that hands be washed for 15-20 seconds with warm water and soap. Another alternative is alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which do not require water but should be rubbed into the hands until dry.

There is still time if you have not yet received your flu vaccination. Contact your health care provider today.

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