Health Alert: Flu Shots for the Baltimore Area

Parents in the Baltimore area, it's not too late to get a flu shot for your kid, tween, or teen. You can get one too!

Howard County Flu Clinics

HCHD General Flu Clinic (Ages 6 months and older)

• Flu shots or FluMist available - No Charge
• Howard County Health Department, Columbia Health Center, 7180 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD 21046

Other Clinics Available

• Dr. Rafei, owner of the KinderMender Walk in Pediatric Center in Columbia is offering FREE injectable flu vaccines this season in an effort to introduce the community to his clinic. The clinic offers general pediatric services as well (for a fee- these other services are not free). He accepts many insurance plans, however. Last, the office offers x-ray, lab, and limited pharmacy dispensing services.
• KinderMender Walk in Pediatric Center, 6100 Dobbin Road, Columbia, MD 2104; Office phone 443-492-4000. www.Kindermender.com
• Office hours 7 days a week 9:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Baltimore County Flu Clinics

Baltimore County Department of Health Flu Clinic

The Baltimore County Department of Health is offering free flu vaccinations:

• Drumcastle Government Center, 6401 York Road, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21212

*Limited supply available. Residents will receive vaccine on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information about flu vaccinations for Maryland residents, call 410-887-BCHD.

Anne Arundel County Flu Clinics

2011 Flu Immunization Clinics

Flu shots or nasal mist are available at the flu clinic. High dose flu shots for seniors and pneumococcal vaccinations are also available.

• Health Services Building, 3 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis
• For more information, call the A.A. Department of Health's Flu Information Line at 410-222-7343 or visit AAHealth.org.

Weekly Walk in Clinics (Free)

• Glen Burnie Health Center, 416 A Street, SW, Glen Burnie, MD 21061; 410-222-6633
• Parole Health Center, 1950 Drew Street, Annapolis, MD 21401; 410-222-7247

Baltimore City Flu Clinics

Free flu shots and other vaccinations are available at the T.I.K.E. Vans to those in need. Call 410-396-4454 for more information. T.I.K.E. Immunization Clinic Schedule for November 2011

• Free shots
• No appointment, first some, first served.
• Some adult shots are available

Free Flu Clinics in Baltimore sponsored by the Baltimore City Health Department and ACE Coalition:

• New Psalmist Church, 6020 Marian Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215
• Mt. Pleasant Church, 6000 Radecke Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21206
• Bring your Medicare card as Medicare Part B pays for the vaccine.

Frederick County Flu Vaccination Clinics

The Frederick County Health Department will offer flu shots. 

• An appointment is necessary.
• The flu vaccine is available for children 6 months to 17 years of age. Adults 18 years or older will not be able to get the flu vaccine.
• You can choose between the Injectable Vaccine or the Intranasal Vaccine (FluMist) based on availability.
• Free flu vaccine is available for children 5-11 years of age.
• Flu vaccine is available to children 6 months to 4 years and 12 to 17 years at the following cost: FluMist, $26; Flu vaccine (by needle), $20.
• Payment: Cash or check only. Credit cards not accepted.

Schedule online or call 1-877-419-3409.

Learn more about flu shots from this comprehensive resource.

Washington, D.C.: Best Things to Do for Thanksgiving

November is a time for gathering with family and friends to give thanks. Thanks for love, family, happiness, and life. As a resident of Washington, D.C., you may find that your family want to combine a visit to Washington, D.C., with Thanksgiving. With relatives and friends at your home over the holidays, here are some activities for you and your guests.

Black Wednesday

As you prepare for your Thanksgiving festivities with family and friends, you can:

• Visit a bar for an after work pre-Thanksgiving Happy Hour.

Thanksgiving Dinner

With relatives coming in from out of town, you will need to:

• Buy one of the best Thanksgiving beers.
• Purchase the Thanksgiving turkey.
• Go to a bar to see Thanksgiving football

Black Friday and the Thanksgiving Weekend

You will be stuffed from your Thanksgiving feast, so:

• Run a Turkey Trot.
• See a Thanksgiving concert.
• Find something to do on Black Friday or the Thanksgiving Weekend that is not shopping.
• Take the family to a fun family Thanksgiving parade.

Health Alert: Influenza and Flu Shots

As a pregnant person, I debated getting a flu shot back in the fall of 1995. I did not know very much about influenza. I knew that I had had the flu at one time or another. My reaction to getting the flu was not severe. I would take a day off work to recover from the worst of it. By 48 hours after contracting the flu, I was back to my usual self. But, with a baby on board my perspective of health was be forever changed. No longer could I worry about just myself. I had a precious baby to worry about.

I consulted with my general practitioner, my obstetrician, and even the pediatrician I had chosen for after my baby was born. All of the medical professionals agreed that getting a flu shot was relatively risk-free and potentially life-saving precautionary measure. As luck would have it, the local Red Cross van made a stop at my place of work one day. 

Since 1995, I have had a flu shot yearly with the exception of the year there was a vaccine shortage. My children have each had a yearly flu shot since the age of 1 or 2 years old.

More resources on Influenza

Red Cross Flu Checklist

• For more information on flu vaccinations, go to Flu.gov.
• Influenza basics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Current flu activity in the United States (weekly).
• Find a flu vaccine near you, with this helpful flu vaccine location finder.
• Find a flu clinic with the Faces of Influenza Flu Vaccine Finder.
• Live in or around Baltimore? If you are parent of a kid, a tween, or a teen, or not, check out this flu shot resource.

Maryland: County Public Schools Resources

Here are resources for Maryland's public schools. Whether under a weather watch or not, finding the right person to talk to in your school district can be a daunting task. I hope this list of links to county public schools website is helpful.

• Allegany County Public Schools, Cumberland, MD
• Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Annapolis, MD
• Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore, MD
• Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore, MD
• Calvert County Public Schools, Prince Frederick, MD
• Caroline County Public Schools, Denton, MD
• Carroll County Public Schools, Westminster, MD
• Cecil County Public Schools, Elkton, MD
• Charles County Public Schools, Waldorf, MD
• Dorchester County Public Schools, Cambridge, MD
• Frederick County Public Schools, Frederick, MD
• Garrett County Public Schools, Oakland, MD
• Harford County Public Schools, Bel Air, MD
• Howard County Public Schools, Columbia, MD
• Kent County Public Schools, Rock Hall, MD
• Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, MD
• Prince George's County Public Schools, Upper Marboro, MD
• Queen Anne's County Public Schools, Centreville, MD
• Saint Mary's County Public Schools, Leonardtown, MD
• Somerset County Public Schools, Westover, MD
• Talbot County Public Schools, St. Michaels, MD
• Washington County Public Schools, Hagerstown, MD
• Wicomico County Public Schools, Salisbury, MD
• Worcester County Public Schools, Newark, MD

One more link...Maryland State Department of Education.