Flu Vaccinations Readily Available

Summer is drawing to a close, school has resumed and cooler weather is rolling into the area. Soon, flu season will be here, too.

Flu season typically runs from October through May, with the peak in January, officials said, but residents can receive flu vaccines as early as September.

DuPage County Health Department spokesman David Hass encouraged Naperville residents Friday to get their annual flu vaccinations this fall, as it is an important step in preventative health.

Both local and state officials announced last week several changes with the vaccines for influenza. Those changes are for the better, Hass said.

For one, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending this year that everyone 6 months and older receives a vaccine. It's the first time the CDC has made such a recommendation, and the local health department supports it.

"(It) was changed in part because of the large supply of vaccine that will be available" Hass said, calling getting a flu shot "one of the most important public health acts of the year."

Beginning in October, the county health department is partnering for the fourth year in a row with Dominick's, Osco Pharmacy and Central DuPage Hospital Convenient Care Centers. Together, the groups will encourage residents who are 14 years old and older to get their flu shots, Hass said, adding that there are 40 locations involved in the partnership.

The DCHD is encouraging senior citizens to get their flu shots at the Senior Fair on Oct. 8 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, he said. They can do so by appointment only.

"The hope is that more people will get flu shots with access closer to home," Hass said.

The vaccines will be available at local health departments across the state, as well as some doctor's offices, health clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. The cost will vary by location, but it is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and by some insurance companies, officials said.

This year, the H1N1 strain and two other flu strains are included in one vaccine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. This is different from 2009, but similar to previous years in which three different flu strains were rolled into one vaccine, officials said.

"Every flu season is different and people are affected by the flu differently," IDPH Director Damon T. Arnold said in a news release. "Even healthy children and adults can become very sick from the flu. … It is important for those of us who can get our influenza vaccine, to do so and protect those vulnerable populations who could become seriously ill."

Each year, nearly 36,000 people die from flu and flu-related illnesses, Hass said, noting that the flu is not treatable using antibiotics.

Health officials are stressing that residents practice the "three Cs" to prevent illness by cleaning their hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and containing germs by staying home while sick.

"We cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting vaccinated," Hass said. "Flu shots save lives."

• Dominick's provide a $5 gift card to people who get flu shots. Coupons to get the gift card are available on the DCHD web site.
• To make an appointment to receive a flu shot Oct. 8 at the Senior Fair at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, call 620-682-7400