North End Waterfront Health Cares For Your Most Precious Asset

The motto of the entire staff at North End Waterfront Health is: "We're the life of the community."

Public Affairs Coordinator Marianne Aiello explained that as well as the staying power of the center.

"We been here for 41 years," she said. "Anyone can be a patient here."

Currently, Marianne said, all the doctors are accepting new patients.

The health-care facility accepts all forms of insurance including the relatively new Commonwealth Choice.

When one does sign up to become a patient at North End Waterfront Health, his or her doctor will advise getting a flu shot every year.

John Foster, MD, who is the medical director at North End Waterfront Health, provided the following information.

Why is it important for people to get vaccinated?

"The flu is potentially a pretty severe illness, much more than a bad cold, and especially so for elderly, infants or those with chronic diseases like asthma, heart disease or diabetes," Dr. Foster said. "And even if you don't get that sick, it is quite contagious and you can give it to others who might get more sick."

Thus, Dr. Foster pointed out, the current CDC recommendation is for all people to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves as well as their contacts.

"There are many deaths from complications of the flu in the US each year. The vaccine is a dead vaccine and can not give you the flu," he said.

Dr. Foster said he has not yet seen anyone with the flu so far this year.

How many strains of the flu does this year's vaccination protect against?

Three strains, two of which are new this year, so even more important to get the new 2012-13 vaccine, Dr. Foster said.

How likely is it that someone will still get the flu if they've received a flu shot?

"This varies and is calculated in many different ways but, if the match of the vaccine to the strains that actually are found is good for the year, you can get up to 80 percent protection," Dr. Foster said.