New Port Richey, FL ( Feb. 1, 2010) - Older adults are increasingly confused about flu shots such as what they need and when. It’s important that they find a credible information source. Most often it is their own doctor who can be trusted as the best source of information about what flu shots are needed and when.
“Please contact your physician and beware of any information you might receive by e-mail,” noted Joy A. Cook, owner and branch manager of Home Instead Senior Care in New Port Richey.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions alerted the media to a scam e-mail circulating the internet attempting to fool Americans into revealing personal information. Those who clicked on the link downloaded a malicious code on their system without realizing what they were doing,” she added. “The CDC said it has received reports of fraudulent e-mails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program for H1N1. There is no such program. The messages request that users create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the CDC.gov Website.”
Users that click on the embedded link in the e-mail are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system. The CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:
· Do not open or respond to unsolicited e-mail messages.
· Do not click links embedded in e-mails from unknown senders.
· Use caution when entering personal information online.
· Update anti-virus, spyware, firewall and anti-spam software regularly.
Of special note, Ms. Cook added that on Tues., Feb 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a community awareness fair at the Elks Lodge (7201 Congress St.) in New Port Richey. The H1N1 vaccinations will be provided by Pasco Count Health Department.
Recent studies have shown that about a third of adults 65 years of age and older may have some level of immunity against the H1N1 flu virus. As a result, this group is not among the priority groups to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine, according to the CDC Web site.
It is, however, still extremely important that the elderly get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible, according to the CDC. For older adults, the seasonal flu can be very serious, even deadly, says the CDC.
“Each year in the U.S., an average of 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from serious flu complications,”
If you need help getting to your doctor’s appointments or picking up medications, contact Home Instead Senior Care for assistance.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact Joy Cook at (727) 845-5819 or visit www.homeinstead.com http://www.homeinstead.com/
