Millions suffer from the flu each winter, she said. Symptoms include fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite, coughing, body aches and pain. It is a disease with frequent and serious lung involvement, is highly contagious and spread by direct contact with the airborne virus or an infected person.
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria that invades the lungs.
Each year, it kills thousands of older people in the United States. People who are inoculated with the vaccine are protected from most bacteria that cause the disease. The Health Department is targeting high-risk groups for immunization. Flu and pneumonia shots are offered free of charge through the Health Department but donations will be accepted.