As the Barton County Health Department braces for the approaching flu season, public health educator Janel Rose, said there should be no shortage of influenza vaccine for 2011-2012.
The department will begin offering  seasonal flu shots daily starting on Monday, Sept. 19, during regular clinic hours for anyone age 6 months and older. No appointment is necessary, Rose said.
“Our goal is to have our county immunized by Nov. 15 so that everyone is protected before the holidays begin,” Rose said. The more people who are vaccinated in an area, the greater the protection, creating what is known as herd immunity.
Flu cases typically occur from November through March in Kansas.
There are other health care providers and businesses offering flu vaccines. However, Rose said the costs and types of vaccines provided will vary from place to place.
Based on 2010 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, the flu and related symptoms, particularly pneumonia, are the sixth leading cause of death in Barton County, claiming nine lives. It falls behind heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, accidents/complications and diabetes.
Persons under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian, no physician’s order needed. Pregnant women may receive the traditional inactivated influenza vaccine.
There are several types of vaccinations available, and the cost varies. All are eligible for coverage by or Medicare/Medicaid Card or other insurance.
• Cost for influenza vaccine shots will be $24. Intradermal flu shots will also be available at the health department for people 18 to 64 years of age at $24.
• The high-dose influenza vaccine shot is an alternative that is available for anyone age 65 and older who is eligible to receive a regular seasonal flu vaccine at $45. The vaccine has four times the amount of antigen that produces antibodies, necessary for those with lower immune response. No physician’s order will be needed.
• The health department will also offer FluMist nasal vaccine for persons age 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant and who do not have certain health conditions for $30. This is a live influenza vaccine that contains live but weakened flu virus. It is sprayed into the nose and it does not contain thimerosal or other preservatives. 
However, people with health problems such as heart disease, asthma/wheezing, lung diseases, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, anemia, or blood disorders, women who are pregnant and anyone with a weakened immune system should have the traditional inactivated influenza vaccine shot.
The 2011-2012 vaccine provides protection against A/H1N1 (pandemic) influenza and two other influenza viruses – influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B. Because the virus mutates, the vaccine is updated every year to include the newest strains.
However, the vaccine will not prevent illness caused by other viruses.
Rose said it takes up to two weeks for protection to develop after the shot. Protection lasts about a year. 
CDC’s recommendation on flu vaccine states that anyone age 6 months or older should receive a flu vaccine. Annual vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of having serious flu-related complications or people who live with or care for higher risk individuals or those who have contact with them.
 The CDC is particularly recommending that all children be vaccinated because they are significant transmitters of the disease. Children must complete an initial two-dose series of vaccine to have effective prevention.
According to Rose, for many children and adults, influenza causes fever, cough, chills, sore throat, headaches and muscle aches. But for those at higher risk, the illness can be much more severe, leading to hospitalization, complications, and even death.
Flu viruses spread from person to person mainly when infected individuals cough or sneeze. Sometimes people might become infected by touching an object and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. 
Influenza vaccine can be given at the same time as the pneumonia vaccine. This vaccine protects against 23 of the most deadly strains of pneumonia that account for more than 40,000 American deaths every year.
It is considered to be a once in a lifetime immunization for many people and is recommended for all people aged 65 and older, anyone over age 2 with a long-term health problem, who has a disease or condition or is taking a drug or treatment that lowers the body’s resistance to infection, or who has had organ transplants.
“Compared to the cost of medications and care, prevention is truly a bargain,” Rose said.