November 16, 2016
Staying ahead of the flu 4
Around Town New director of Humane Service
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St. Charles County health officials encourage vaccinations to protect against upcoming flu season By Brett Auten Local health officials are getting the word out early. Annual vaccinations deliver the best protection against the flu. For most who become sick, the flu causes symptoms such as fever, cough, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, vomiting or general fatigue, but for others — especially young children and those 65 or older — the illness can be life-threatening. Getting vaccinated now and continuing with preventative actions throughout the flu season will minimize opportunities for the flu to spread and improve the well-being of all within our community. “You don’t think of the flu as causing more than a couple of days in bed feeling miserable,” Doug Bolnick, Public Information Officer said. “But if you have other issues or fall into that age range it can be a potentially deadly disease.” St. Charles County health officials are encouraging children and adults to prepare for the upcoming flu season by getting an annual flu shot. The Division of Health Services’ Immunization Clinic, located at 1650 Boones Lick Road in St. Charles, now offers flu shots for adults
and children. According to the clinic, it takes approximately two weeks for vaccine antibodies to develop, so a shot received this month will protect you before the onset of the “season,” which typically runs from November through March. Analysis from multiple sources, including the Center of Disease Control and the World Health Organization to formulate the composition of the vaccine and this analysis determined: • That the quadrivalent vaccine be designed to protect against four different flu viruses (an H1N1 virus, an H3N2 virus, and two influenza B viruses) and be appropriate for all individuals ages six months or older. • “You never know what (virus) can come along and start to circulate,” Bolnick said. • That a pediatric influenza vaccine be offered with a smaller dosage of the quadrivalent vaccine, so that it may be appropriate for children ages six months to 35 months. • That a high-dose vaccine be made available for those 65 years of age or older. This type of vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen in
a regular flu shot to boost the body’s ability to create antibodies against influenza virus. • That the nasal spray method has not been as effective in protecting individuals against influenza as the traditional shot method. As a result, the nasal spray will not be offered by the Immunization Clinic this year. Flu shots through the Immunization Clinic are $35 for the quadrivalent vaccine, $40 for the pediatric vaccine and $55 for the high-dose vaccine. Bolnick said costs are covered by most insurance policies and are waived for children participating in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program or those eligible for the Adult 317 program. “It’s an unnecessary risk,” Bolnick said of not getting a flu shot. “It’s two-tothree minutes of discomfort. Annual flu vaccinations are the best way to prevent the spread of the flu illness. Also, wash your hands regularly with warm, soapy water to minimize the spread of the virus and stay home when sick. The flu is highly contagious and is spread through direct contact.” See FLU page 2
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