Oh yes, I said "Boo" to the flu!

This last Saturday, I was one of the mean ones.  The ones that drag their kids to a Halloween themed flu clinics and force them to dress up and take candy from strangers.  Someone call the cops.

OK, so it wasn't bad at all.  In fact, due to some unforeseen circumstances I was the only one who made a date with a needle, but fear not young daughters-o-mine!  You will be visiting the pediatrician's office before you know it!

On Saturday, my girls and I, along with Melissa from Rock and Drool, and Amy from Coffee with the Mrs., attended "Say 'Boo!' to the Flu" at Alliance Mobile Health in Troy.  We were invited by our new friends at the Visiting Nurses Association of Southeast Michigan (VNA), Families Fighting Flu, and The Clorox Company who want everyone to know the dangers of influenza, and that vaccinations are available.

The cool thing about the VNA is that they are a non-profit organization and if you stop at one of their clinics for your flu shot, all proceeds go back into the community to help provide home health care and hospice services to the uninsured.

Saturday's event had a nice steady turnout which pleased Alexandra Hichel, Senior Communications Consultant for VNA, "This is a big community event and the theme distracts a lot from the agony of the flu shot."

The events are designed to encourage families to keep themselves and the children protected. And for those wondering H1N1 is one of three strains in this years' vaccine.

One of the scariest truths about influenza is that it can kill healthy children of all ages. Parents like Detroit area resident Zack Yaksich know the heartbreak only too well after his 5-year-old daughter died suddenly of influenza complications in 2003.  You can read Zack's story by visiting Alana's Flu Foundation.

There are two more "Say 'Boo!'" events planned by the VNA this month:
• Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the North Oakland YMCA (3378 E. Walton Blvd.) in Auburn Hills
• Friday, October 29, 2010, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (867 South Boulevard) in Pontiac

People can also come to the VNA Oak Park office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to get their flu shots or visit them at our many other public clinics.

“Vaccination is a key step in helping fight the flu,” said Kay Renny, RN, manager of community programs for VNA.  “According to the CDC, the flu vaccine can prevent as many as two-thirds of influenza infections in young children, with even higher estimates for older children.”

And DON'T FORGET!!!!!  There is still time to take the pledge to "Say 'Boo!' to the Flu!"  By taking the pledge to vaccinate your family against influenza you enter to win some awesome prizes.  You can also visit my post here, and leave me a comment stating that you took the pledge and be entered to win one of two awesome flu prevention gift baskets (with Clorox hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, a $25 Target gift card, a trick-or-treat bag with goodies like Silly Bandz, etc).  You can enter through 11:59 p.m. on October 17!

So take the pledge!  Enter all the contests including this one and this one!  Check out my whrrl below!  And take care of yourselves!  Peace out. Boo!

More check-ins at Alliance Mobile Health

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Disclosure:  I am working with TheMotherhood and The Clorox Company, and they have compensated me for my time.  However, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.