Flu vaccinations available at Central District Health starting today

Flu season will soon be upon us and the Mountain Home office of the Central District Health Department will begin offering walk-in adult flu vaccinations every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Oct. 7.

There is currently no children's flu vaccine available. Delivery is expected by mid-October. Call 587-4407 to check on the status of children's flu vaccine.

The cost of the regular influenza vaccination for individuals 19 years of age and older is $28. The non-injectable FluMist will cost $36.

When children's flu vaccine becomes available the administration fee will be $14.34. Payment is expected at time of service.

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications.

People who should get vaccinated each year are:

* Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday.

* Pregnant women.

* People 50 years of age and older.

* People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.

* People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu also are urged to get vaccinations, including:

* Health careworkers.

* Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu.

* Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age (those children are too young to be vaccinated).

Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Even though area residents can get vaccinated early in October, the vaccine will continue to be available into December, January and beyond. The flu shot will still be effective even if you get it later because influenza season generally peaks in this area in February.

There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:

* People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.

* People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.

* People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.

* Children less than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group).

* People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated) .

The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and the similarity or "match" between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation. Testing has shown that both the flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine are effective at preventing the flu.

Information on flu vaccine and clinics will also be posted to the CDHD website at www.cdhd.idaho.gov and will be available on the CDHD Flu Hotline 321-2222.

Information on the seasonal flu vaccine can also be accessed by calling the Mountain Home office of Central District Health at 208-587-4407.