Cowlitz County Health Department Participates in Influenza Vaccination with Castle Rock Students and Their Families

Cowlitz County Health Department works hard to bring influenza information to the people. The young people that is. National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have recommended influenza vaccination for children between the ages of 5 and 19.

Compared to all cities in Cowlitz County, Castle Rock has the second most hospitalizations of children for the flu, or the pneumonia that sometimes follows. Specifically, four times more Castle Rock children than Longview children are hospitalized for the flu or its complications. The Health Department is partnering with Castle Rock School District to offer information about protecting yourself and your children from this potentially dangerous illness. Your children will receive age-appropriate materials to help them learn about influenza and its prevention. Please watch for these materials and use them to start a conversation with your kids about health promotion and disease prevention in their day-to-day lives.

Signs and symptoms to watch for:

  • fever over 102˚ F lasting several days
  • muscle and body aches and pains
  • chest discomfort (severe with pneumonia)
  • fatigue and exhaustion
  • a sudden onset of symptoms

Headaches, sore throat, dry cough and stuffy runny nose may or may not also be present in influenza infection. This is different from a cold due to the increased temperature, the achy body and muscles and weakness from fatigue. If you or a loved one have these symptoms in all or part, please seek medical advice. Anyone with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure or any other respiratory problem should not only be aware of the signs and symptoms of influenza, but also be sure to receive an influenza vaccine, as they are at a much greater risk of complications than those without chronic disease.

Immunizing Your Child Against Flu

Please take the time to protect your child; read the flyer linked below and view the video to learn more about what you can do to help ensure your family stays healthy this winter. Vaccinate all your family members against influenza. It can help keep your family and community safe from illness, decrease lost time at work and school, and decrease medical costs for your family, the community and the state. It’s never too late to vaccinate.

If you have any questions regarding this or any other vaccine, please feel free to call Stacey Gregory at the Cowlitz County Health Department at (360) 414-5593.