The state is now helping local health officials get ready for another flu season. The Ohio Department of Health says it has begun shipping tens thousands of doses of flu vaccine to local health departments, so they can provide shots to those most at risk of getting sick.
That includes the elderly, very young children, people with chronic illnesses such as asthma and expectant mothers.
Others are being instructed to check with their doctor to see if they should get a vaccine.
State health department spokesman Christopher Weiss says vaccination is the best protection against flu and its complications, like pneumonia. Officials say pneumonia leads to more than 3,000 deaths in Ohio each year.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
