Google on Tuesday announced a new Maps feature to help make it easier to determine the availability of flu vaccine.
According to the company, users can now visit Google's new flu shot Google Maps page to find out if there is any vaccine available in their area. It partnered with "the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, their Flu.gov collaborators, and the American Lung Association on the flu shot finder," the company wrote in a blog post.
On the flu shot page, users can input their Zip code or town and find all the vaccine available in their area. The tool will also be made available on the U.S. government's flu page, as well as the American Lung Association's site.
Find flu shots with the help of Google Maps.
(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)As useful as it might sound, Google was quick to point out in the blog post that so far, the company has yet to receive information on flu shots from many locations. It should also be noted that depending on where the user searches, he or she might find several clinics that are out of flu shots. Google said that although some of the service might not feature actionable content now, it felt the time was right to "help disseminate information about locations where vaccines are available, and also to make more vaccine providers aware of the project so that they can contribute."
Google is currently working with the Centers for Disease Control, state and local health agencies, and other organization to add more vaccination locations to its maps. So far, it has received "data for locations of flu vaccine directly from 20 states and counting." To expand its coverage, Google is also working with chain pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS to add more vaccination-availability information for all 50 states.
For now, you can try out Google's flu shot page to see if there is any seasonal flu or swine flu vaccine available in your area. Expect the page to feature much more content going forward.
The spread of a new swine flu is quickly becoming a worldwide concern. The Web, of course, is an ideal resource for learning more about it, but there is plenty of misinformation as well. Here are the sites we recommend turning to.
Research sites
The CDC has all the best information.
(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)The Centers for Disease Control : The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is the best swine flu resource on the Web. You can learn about the outbreak of the flu and find key facts that help you understand it. There's a video podcast by a physician, giving you in-depth information about the flu's signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, and steps you can take to protect yourself. This should be your first stop.
Flu Wiki : The Flu Wiki from Wikia helps you learn about influenza. From its symptoms to its varied strains, the site provides a wealth of knowledge on just about any flu topic. It also has a swine flu wiki page that, while helpful, could be more in-depth. But since the swine flu is somewhat similar to other influenza strains, the Flu Wiki will still come in handy.
Google Maps swine flu outbreak map: The swine flu outbreak map helps you find every known instance of the swine flu around the world. The map also provides information on the current state of the ill person. It will be continuously updated, so you can track it each day. But like following minute-by-minute stock market fluctuations, we don't recommend dwelling on this site.
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