BCHS physician to discuss flu prevention
Flu season is here! Are you prepared?
Influenza, better known as the 'flu,' is a highly contagious
viral infection of the respiratory tract that can lead
to serious illness and even death. Young children, the
elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions such
as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes are
at high risk for serious complications from influenza.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the best protection against the flu
is to get an annual flu vaccination. This is particularly
important in light of the current concern about the H1N1
(swine) influenza.
Gregory Harrington, DO, a member of the Battle Creek
Health System, medical director at the Calhoun County
Health Department, and infectious disease specialist
with Mercy Community Physicians, will speak on flu prevention
and dispelling the myths around flu shots on Wednesday,
October 14, noon at Burnham Brook Center.
The program, which is free to the public, is sponsored
through Senior Health Partners in coordination with Battle
Creek Health System. A lunch will be served at 11:30
a.m. followed by Dr. Harrington's presentation at noon.
Seating is limited. Reservations can be made by calling
the class/seminar registration line at (877) GO2-BCHS
(877-462-2247).
The presentation will focus on key facts about 'seasonal'
and H1N1 influenzas and their flu vaccines. Every year
in the United States on average 5% to 20% of the population
gets the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized
from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from
flu.
What can you do to protect yourself against the flu
this year? The single best way to prevent the flu is
to get an annual flu shot because the strain of influenza
changes from season to season. Actually the flu circulates
around the world year-round; the height of the flu season
in the United States is mid-December through March.
"There are a number of false assumptions about
the flu vaccine," says Dr. Harrington. "Because
it is made with inactivated virus it cannot give you
the flu. It does, however, take a couple of weeks before
your body builds up enough antibodies to be protective,
so it is possible to get the flu in the period shortly
after having the shot. It is also possible that you could
acquire another infection shortly after receiving the
influenza vaccine. The strains selected in the annual
vaccine may not adequately reflect the most common strain
circulating that year. However, the vaccine still provides
protection. Because the dominant strains vary annually,
you have to be vaccinated every year to maintain protection."
Senior Health Partners, a community partnership of Battle
Creek Health System, CentraCare, Region 3B Area Agency
on Aging, and Summit Pointe, works to expand wellness
and educational offerings to senior citizens in Calhoun
and surrounding counties.
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent
organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic
health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing
homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care
agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS
Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission
on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle
Creek Health System is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades
Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm). HealthGrades
is a leading health care information company that provides
objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides
excellent health care for the community and promotes
wellness for the whole person with access and compassion
for all. For the latest medical information, visit the
BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing
Department at (269) 966-8132.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Gregory Harrington received his medical education
from Michigan State University School of Osteopathic
Medicine with an internship at St. Lawrence Hospital
in Lansing. He completed his internal medicine residency
at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids and fellowships
in infectious diseases and pulmonary critical care
medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center,
Ann Arbor, MI.
He is board certified in internal medicine, infectious
diseases, and pulmonary critical care medicine.
Dr. Harrington joined the Battle Creek Health System
medical staff in 1996 and is affiliated with the practice-Mercy
Community Physicians, a multi-specialty practice in Battle
Creek. He is also medical director for the Calhoun County
Health Department.
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