Don't Let Flu Get You

Every year, millions of people in the United States get the flu. That may seem like no big deal, until you consider that about 20,000 people die from it annually and more than 114,000 have to be hospitalized. Even healthy people can get influenza, and serious complications-pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections-can occur among people of any age. Why put yourself, your family and your patients at risk when it's so easy to get immunized?

Flu vaccine reduces symptoms and respiratory ailments, says Hopkins Hospital epidemiologist Trish Perl, and when health care workers are vaccinated, mortality among immuno-compromised patients is reduced by 50 percent. Perl also strongly recommends flu shots for children and anyone over age 65.

The vaccine is in plentiful supply this fall, and once again, Hopkins employees can get free flu inoculations on the following dates.

East Baltimore Campus
Oct. 28 - Nov. 1, Phipps 349, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 - Nov. 8, Phipps 349, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 12, Wilmer/JHOC concourse level (top of escalator),10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nov. 14, Wilmer/JHOC concourse, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Details: Occupational Health Clinic, 410-955-6211.

Bayview Campus
Oct. 29-31, Pavilion Conference Room A, 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nov. 11-15, ASC 278, 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Homewood Campus
Oct. 29, Levering Hall, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 30, Levering Hall, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 31, Levering Hall, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wyman Park Medical Center
Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays in November, Suite 601, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Johns Hopkins at Green Spring Station
Nov. 5, Pavilion 1, Suite 360, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Johns Hopkins HealthCare
Nov. 14, Baymeadow Cafeteria, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.