Due to the increasingly critical flu season, the state Health Department has announced no cost flu vaccines will be held at 55 Parish Health units across the state January 31st. The walk-in clinics will administer flu shots to anyone who has not done so yet. State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says get the shot earlier if you can.
There are marked differences between a regular cold and influenza. Dr. Welch says it will be very apparent if you are getting sick with the flu bug. You will go from feeling ok to bad in just a few hours.
He says one huge reason they are sponsoring the free clinics if the influx of people coming to the state to celebrate Mardi Gras next month.
Reported flu cases are at 10-percent in Louisiana, one of the highest in the nation and causes around 700 deaths per year in the state.