Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by the influenza virus. Peak influenza season generally occurs between November and April. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza infection often causes a more severe illness. Each year, the flu affects many area residents, particularly those with weakened immune systems, including seniors, those with heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetics, those with cancer or AIDS, and pregnant women. Early detection of influenza is essential to stop the spread of infection and limit the number of complications from influenza.

One thing high risk individuals can do to limit the chances of contracting this condition is to be vaccinated against the disease at the start of the flu season in October or early November. Those who should get the vaccine include:

• Healthy people 65 and older.
• Adults and children with heart and lung disease.
• Individuals who have Kidney disease, diabetes, anemia, severe asthma, cancer, AIDS, HIV infection, or who take medication that lowers the body’s normal resistance to infections.
• Pregnant women who will be in at least the 14th week of gestation during the influenza season.
• All healthcare workers who provide patient care.

Those who should not get the vaccine include:

• Individuals with a life-threatening allergy to eggs.
• Individuals who have had a life threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccination.
• Individuals who are presently acutely ill and have a fever should postpone vaccination until illness has resolved.

The Montgomery County Health Department will begin administering influenza vaccine on Friday, November 1, 2002 at the following community sites:

DATE	TIME	SITE	ADDRESS
11/01/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Lower Merion Senior Center	36 Ardmore Ave., Ardmore
11/01/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Marshall Lee Towers	1 West 3rd Ave. Conshohocken
11/06/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Trinity Reformed UCC Church	532 E. Main St., Collegeville
11/06/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Perkiomen Valley Library	2nd & Church Sts., Schwenksville
11/07/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	North Penn Senior Center	315 W. Main St., Lansdale
11/07/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Central Schwenkfelder Church	Valley Forge Rd., Worcester
11/08/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Upper Perkiomen Senior Citizens' Center	517 Jefferson St., East Greenville
11/08/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	New Hanover Township Building	2943 N. Charlotte St., Gilbertsville
11/12/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	SAAC of Montgomery County - Ambler Site	45 Forrest Ave. Ambler
11/13/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Ebenezer Methodist Church	234 E. Spruce St., Norristown
11/13/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	SAAC of Montgomery County - Norristown	536 George St., Norristown
11/14/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	First Presbyterian Church in Flourtown	1710 Bethlehem Pk., Flourtown
11/14/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	SAAC of Montgomery County - Glenside Site	100 Edgehill Rd., Glenside
11/15/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	SAAC of Indian Valley	259 N. Second St., Souderton
11/19/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Hatfield Volunteer Fire Company	75 N. Market St., Hatfield
11/19/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Walnut St. Seventh Day Adventist Church	Walnut & Warren Sts. Pottstown
11/20/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	McKinley Memorial Baptist Church	214 Cedar Ave., Willow Grove
11/20/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	LaMott Community Center	Willow & Sycamore Aves., LaMott
11/21/02	9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon	SAAC of Harleysville	312 Alumni Ave., Harleysville
11/22/02	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Horsham Township Building	1025 Horsham Rd. Horsham
11/22/02	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Upper Moreland Township Building	117 Park Ave., Willow Grove

*The above-planned sites are dependent upon vaccine availability. For more information, call the Montgomery County Health Department at (610) 278 -5117.