50+ Lifestyles

Genesis Fights Flu…

…With Protection, Prevention And Information

Genesis will provide protection, prevention and information throughout the 2009-2010 flu season. Protection against seasonal influenza and pneumonia will be available at more than 40 public flu clinics in the region beginning Oct. 2. Protection against the H1N1 strain will be available as shipments of the new vaccine arrive.

Genesis will also take the lead in the Flu-Free Quad Cities initiative by vaccinating up to 8,000 elementary school children against the flu. The voluntary project offers free seasonal influenza shots to elementary age children throughout the region.

Prevention and information will both be available throughout the
season at www.genesishealth.com/flu. The web site has prevention tips, videos, seasonal flu information in Spanish, information about the Flu-Free Quad Cities initiative and links to governmental flu resources, including the county health departments, Iowa and Illinois health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Genesis will also have updates on its flu web site and on its Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages throughout the fall and winter.

“Vaccination, prevention and staying informed are three excellent ways to prevent the spread of seasonal flu and H1N1 in our communities this flu season,’’ said Jim Lehman, M.D., Vice President of Quality, Genesis Health System. “And, through our Flu-Free Quad Cities initiative and public flu clinics, we hope to limit the exposure to flu for thousands of Quad Cities families.’’

Dr. Lehman said that since the appearance of the H1N1 strain last spring, Genesis has proactively developed its existing plans in the event of a pandemic.

“We have placed our pandemic plans on a fast track in anticipation of a challenging flu season,’’ Dr. Lehman said. “We have tried to think about how we can best prevent the spread of seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses in this region and how we can best plan to serve our communities if we do face a flu pandemic.”

In the past, Genesis has followed the CDC guidelines and not started public flu clinics until Oct. 15. Because of the possibility of an H1N1 outbreak in addition to seasonal influenza, Dr. Lehman said health officials are encouraging the public to get their seasonal flu shots earlier than usual.

The Flu-Free Quad Cities program in the schools will kick off in late October or early November. School districts participating will include Davenport, Davenport’s non-public schools, Clinton County schools, Fulton, North Scott, Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf, Rock Island/Milan and Moline. Parents of elementary school children in those districts will receive information from their schools about the dates of vaccinations.

The first scheduled Genesis public flu clinic will be 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 2 at the Moline Activities Center. The clinics will vaccinate anyone 18 years old and older.

If you are not covered by Medicare, there will be a $35 cash cost for each flu immunization with a $5 discount for payment by cash or check. The cost for pneumonia immunization is $40. Medicare Part B covers flu and pneumonia immunizations. Anyone with Medicare Part B coverage can present their card at any Genesis public flu clinic and Genesis VNA will file the claims.

The CDC recommends that individuals in the following groups be vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza:

• Children ages 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu
• Health care workers

Genesis Quad Cities Public Flu Clinics (Additional Dates To Be Determined)
Oct. 2 – 9 a.m.-Noon, Moline Activities Center, Moline
Oct. 5 – 8 a.m-3 p.m., CASI, Davenport
Oct. 5 – 11 a.m.-Noon, Eldridge Community Center, Eldridge
Oct. 6 – 9 a.m.-Noon, Blue Grass American Legion, Blue Grass
Oct. 7 – 8 a.m.-Noon, Hy-Vee, Devil’s Glen Road, Bettendorf
Oct. 8 – 8 a.m.-Noon, Hy-Vee, East Kimberly Road, Davenport
Oct. 9 – 9 a.m.-Noon, Moline Activities Center, Moline
Oct. 13 – 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Crosstown Square, Silvis
Oct. 14 – 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Buffalo Meal Site, Buffalo
Oct. 16 – 8 a.m.-3 p.m., CASI, Davenport
Oct. 18 – 9-11 a.m., Zion Lutheran Church, Davenport
Oct. 21 – 1-5 p.m., Hy-Vee, Rockingham Road, Davenport
Oct. 23 – 9 a.m.-Noon, Moline Activities Center
Oct. 26 – 7-10 a.m., Scott County Family Y, 606 W. 2nd St., Davenport
Oct. 26 – 4-7 p.m., Davenport North Family Y, 624 W. 53rd
Oct. 27 – 9-10 a.m., Friendly House, Davenport
Oct. 27 – 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., New Hope Presbyterian
Oct. 29 – 8 a.m.-Noon, Hy-Vee, East Kimberly Road, Davenport
Nov. 4 – 8 a.m.-11 a.m., Davenport West Family Y, 3503 W. Locust St., Davenport
Nov. 4 – 5-8 p.m., Bettendorf Family Y, 3800 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf
Nov. 6 – 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Fairmount Library, 3800 N. Fairmount St., Davenport

Genesis Clinton County Public Flu Clinics
Oct. 5 – Noon- 6 p.m., Church of the Open Door, Clinton
Oct. 6 – 11-11:30 a.m., Garner Hall Meal Site, Camanche
Oct. 6 – 3-6 p.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, DeWitt
Oct. 8 – 2-6 p.m., Garner Hall, Camanche
Oct. 12 – 4-6 p.m., St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Wheatland
Oct. 13 – 8:30-9:30 a.m., CALCO, Calamus
Oct 13 – 10:15-11:15 a.m., DeWitt Community Center
Oct. 13 — 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Welton Fire Station
Oct. 13 – 2:30-3:30 p.m., Charlotte Area Activity Center
Oct. 13 – 4-7 p.m., Genesis VNA Office, Clinton
Oct. 15 – 8:30-9:45 a.m., Grossman Center, Delmar
Oct. 15 – 10:15-11:30 a.m., Ascension Lutheran Church, Goose Lake
Oct. 15 – 12:45-1:45 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, Andover
Oct. 15 – 2:30-3:30 p.m., Low Moor Community Center
Oct. 16 – 8:30-9:45 a.m., Grand Mound Community Center
Oct. 16 – 10:15-11 a.m., St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Wheatland
Oct. 16 – 12:45-2 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lost Nation
Oct. 19 – 4-6 p.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, DeWitt
Oct. 20 – 12:30-6 p.m., Church of the Open Door, Clinton

PUBLIC NOTE: Genesis has two hotlines available for information about upcoming flu clinics. In the Quad Cities, the number is (563) 421-5522. In the Clinton/DeWitt area, the number is (563) 244-4957. A schedule of clinics and much more information and news about seasonal influenza and the H1N1 strain also is available at www.genesishealth.com/flu.