Keep children healthy this winter season Flu season is off to an
earlier than usual start this year with large numbers of cases
being reported around the country. The flu is not prevalent in
unusually high numbers in Montezuma County, but it's early in
the season and the flu vaccine is still available and highly
recommended. It takes the vaccine about two weeks to take
effect, so the sooner you get the vaccine, the better, if you've
not already done so. The flu can be especially dangerous for
small children, and Cortez pediatrician Anne Christian, MD, has
tips for parents and caregivers of kids to help prevent the
spread of the flu and keep the little ones healthy in general
throughout the winter months. "I'm not seeing huge numbers of
flu cases yet this year but I have had to hospitalize two
children for the illness," said Christian. If you've not yet had
your children vaccinated for the flu, it's not too late. "In our
clinics we have preservative-free vaccines that contain no
mercury and are safe for any ch