According to information provided by Marion County Health Department Administrator Diedre Serene, the answer is simple: Because influenza can be dangerous.

This is true especially for infants and young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions or a weakened immune system.

Flu symptoms such as fever, chills, sore throat, cough, and headaches can lead to pneumonia and blood infections and cause diarrhea and seizures in children. Medical conditions such as heart or lung disease can be made worse by flu.

Flu vaccine can prevent flu, make flu less severe, and keep flu from spreading.

“Our mission here at the health department is to protect, promote, and improve the health and safety of all Marion County residents, so we’re taking flu and pneumonia vaccines to as many Marion County communities as possible,” Serene said. “to make it easy for residents, no matter their age, to get the protection they deserve as flu season approaches.”

A special flu clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the clinic, 504 S. Roosevelt. Flu and pneumonia vaccines will be available there every Wednesday beginning Sept. 21.

See the ad in this newspaper for a schedule of other flu clinics throughout the county.