Beebe offers free flu shots for Sussex County

Beebe Healthcare is just one of the latest places to offer free flu shots this season.
Officials admit they’re focused on a very specific group getting the vaccine.

“Now you have your high dose which is over 65.” says Christine Murphy, Beebe Healthcare Community Coordinator, “You’re elderly population doesn’t have as good as immune system as the young folks do.”

A major reason for the increased focus is last year’s flu shot, which they admit was slightly off target.

Health experts found it was a poor match for the nasty surprise strain, which actually mutated after the vaccine was prepared.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of people age 50 to 64 in the United States have one or more medical conditions that place them at an increased risk for serious flu complications.

In Delaware, Health officials say last years flu season claimed the lives of 28 elderly people statewide.

Six of those deaths occurred in Kent and Sussex County.

Although all of these people had underlying conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, and individuals with weak immune systems.

Delaware Health officials say that this number is shocking, because in recent years the death toll had never surpassed double digits.

The death toll in 2014 was six people, four in 2013 and zero in 2012.

Although last year’s shot was off the mark doctors still recommend getting the flu shot because it would still provides more protection than not doing so.

“It just needs to be in your system that way your body has time to remember it, notate it and if you come in contact with it then you’ll already have that immunity set up,” says Murphy.

Last year Beebe Healthcare gave away 3,000 flu shots.

They’re hoping to increase that number to increase that number to 4,000 this year.