Borough warns residents about flu

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Borough is warning residents about what the Centers for Disease Control has termed a national flu epidemic.

“We’re trying to get the word out to go get flu shots and get vaccinated,” said borough emergency manager Casey Cook.

He said the borough is trying to figure out how it can help distribute the shots; however, shots are already available from your doctor, from a pharmacy or from the state’s public health nurses.

The CDC recommends that “with very few exceptions” everyone older than 6 months get vaccinated every year and notes that the vaccine might be harder to get now than earlier in the season so folks might need to call more than one provider.

“Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk to decrease their likelihood of getting sick and possibly having serious illness. People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions (like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease), and people 65 years and older,” according to the CDC’s website.