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Health officials urge people to get a flu vaccine, with season predicted to be ‘rough’
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Health officials are warning people to buckle up for a potentially rough flu season, warning that a strain of flu mutated over the summer and is spreading in the U.S. and other countries. The problem is that the influenza A (H3N2) strain mutation happened right before flu season, which
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Healthy Happenings: Martin County Health Department scheduling flu shots
BY DOROTHY DILLON Flu season has officially arrived, and getting your annual flu shot is one of the best ways to prevent illness and protect those around you. The Martin County Health Department is now scheduling flu vaccines. Call 606-298-7752. We are located at 136 Rockcastle Road, Inez. Stay healthy, Martin County.
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Healthy Happenings: Schedule your child’s vaccinations now
BY DOROTHY DILLON School is just around the corner. Is your child up to date on routine vaccinations? Vaccines help protect your child from serious diseases like measles, whooping cough and polio—and they are required for school attendance. Time is running out, so do not wait. Call (606) 298-7752 to schedule your child’s vaccine appointment with
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Second case of measles confirmed; Kindergarten vaccine rates drop
BY MELISSA PATRICK KY HEALTH NEWS Public health officials continue to urge Kentuckians to ensure their children are immunized against measles, as they announced the state’s second confirmed measles case in 2025. The case was a child who was traveling through the state when they sought treatment, according to a news release. The child, who
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Kentucky child dies from flu
FRANKFORT — A child in Kentucky has died from influenza, state health officials said Friday, marking the latest in a series of concerning developments as respiratory illnesses surge across the state. The child had not received a flu vaccine this season, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. “Influenza is on the rise across
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Updated COVID-19 vaccines approved; recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older
BY MELISSA PATRICK KY HEALTH NEWS As the number of COVID-19 infections grows in Kentucky, two updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that are designed to better protect against the most recent strains of the virus. “We are very excited to see the latest COVID boosters approved,”
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State’s health chief urges parents to get kids vaccinated against measles
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS A highly contagious childhood disease that was declared eliminated in the United States in the year 2000 is making a comeback, largely driven by a declining vaccination rate in the country. “Unfortunately, as the measles vaccination rate has decreased, it’s just one of those things where folks are opting
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Drive-thru vaccine clinic for seniors Nov. 29
Flu, RSV, pneumonia, shingles, COVID-19 INEZ — A Drive-Up Health and Wellness Fair is scheduled for Nov. 29 between 10 a.m. and noon at the Martin County Senior Citizens Center. Local seniors may receive various vaccines without leaving the comfort of their vehicles. Vaccinations include flu, RSV, pneumonia, shingles and COVID-19. April Murphy, assistant/vaccine coordinator
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COVID-19 vaccines: What parents need to know now
The COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a national emergency, but the virus that caused it isn’t gone—and neither is the risk of getting the disease, says Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. It published a Q and A with Dr. Michael Smit, the hospital’s medical director of infection prevention and control: Who is eligible for the bivalent
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It’s time for back-to-school vaccinations
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS With just a few weeks left before school starts, it’s time to make sure your school-aged children are up-to-date on their required immunizations. It’s especially important because Kentucky’s children fell behind on their immunizations during the pandemic, and many of them still haven’t caught up. “Kentucky is really low
