Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
Commissioners get flu vaccine in public meeting to encourage others
NORRISTOWN >> Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Val Arkoosh and Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. rolled up their sleeves during a recent board meeting and got flu shots.
They did so amid the anticipated start of flu season. Montgomery
County Medical Director Dr. Richard Lorraine encouraged area residents to do the same.
Flu season can last from October through May, with peak illnesses occurring between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In his presentation during October 6 Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting, Lorraine asked who should get a flu shot? Answering his own question, he said “everyone in your family who is 6 months and older.”
“The primary reason is to prevent serious illness, but it’s a great benefit when we can say, ‘hey, it prevents the disease as well,’” Lorraine said.
There were 9,715 cases of flu recorded in Montgomery County during the 2019-20 flu season, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Those figures represent more traditional statistics, as recent numbers have lowered significantly due to preventative measures such as masking and social distance taken throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccinations from that same flu season prevented an estimated 7.5 million influenza illnesses, 105,000 hospitalizations and 6,300 flu-related deaths, according to the CDC.
“Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu,” Lorraine said.
Montgomery County reported two flu-related deaths in January 2022. County officials cited 1,359 flu cases and 23 hospitalizations as of Jan. 21.
However, last year’s flu figures were “up a little bit,” Lorraine said, and basing projections off of Australia, which he said tracks six months ahead, Lorraine said he expects that “this year (is) projected to go up even more.”
County health officials stressed the importance of utilizing partnerships with doctors, pharmacies and the Montgomery County Immunization Coalition to spread awareness about vaccination efforts. Several clinics are expected throughout the next month in Abington, Blue Bell, Lansdale, King of Prussia and Norristown. The clinics will offer flu shots and COVID-19 bivalent boosters.
“We do encourage getting these vaccines together if you are eligible for them. They work very, very well. It has been appropriately studied,” Lorraine said.
The clinics will take place in the following locations:
• Lansdale: 2:30-7 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 1000 W. Main St.
• Norristown: 2:30-7 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the Montgomery County — Norristown Public Library, located at 1001 Powell St.
• Abington: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Abington Junior High School, located at 2056 Susquehanna Road
• King of Prussia: 2:30-7 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Upper Merion Township Building, located at 175 W. Valley Forge Road
• Blue Bell: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 5 at College Hall on Montgomery County Community College’s Blue Bell campus, located at 340 DeKalb Pike.
Visit montcopa.org/flu for more information. As flu season picks up, Lorraine offered a word of advice to those attending the commissioners meeting concerning getting a flu shot.
“It will shorten the length of a hospital stay, it will reduce the risk of ICU admission and it reduces the risk of death from flu,” Lorraine said. “So (it’s) strongly encouraged and we’re making that as available as possible.”