News Release
December 11, 2007

The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging Texans who will be traveling during the upcoming holidays to get a flu shot to protect themselves and reduce the spread of the respiratory illness.

Flu shots are recommended for people ages 6 months and older whether they will be traveling or not.

The flu vaccine also is available in nasal spray form for healthy people ages 2 years through 49 years who are not pregnant.

People wanting the flu vaccine should contact their health care provider about availability or call 2-1-1, a health and human services information service.  Flu vaccine locations also can be found online at www.211Texas.org.

The flu vaccine takes about two weeks to reach maximum effectiveness.

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(News Media: For more information contact Doug McBride, DSHS Press Officer, 512-458-7524.)