Are you getting a flu shot?

PRINCETON — The Bureau/Putnam County Health Department is gearing up for its seasonal flu clinics and will then turn its focus to H1N1 flu shots.

On Monday, Pat Lebahn, communicable disease coordinator for the local health department, said the times and locations for this year’s seasonal flu clinics should be finalized by Friday. The clinics will begin Oct. 13 and will be held in numerous communities around Bureau County. The majority of the seasonal flu clinics will be completed in a two and one-half week period.

Diana Rawlings, Public Health Administrator for the local health department, said the health department will not begin the flu clinic schulde with one large mass clinic in Princeton, as in recent years. instead, the health department will offer several smaller clinics during various hours and days in Princeton to accommodate as many people as possible.

“Our mass clinics have always been very successful and we are grateful for the community support they have received,” Rawlings said. “However, this year, we will take the time usually spent planning for our mass clinic and use it to plan for the additional H1N1 clinics we will conduct.”

Lebahn said she does expect to receive sufficient seasonal flu vaccines to cover the need in Bureau County. However, not all those shipments have yet been received, she said.

The cost for the seasonal flu shot will be the same as last year, at $25 for adults, with Medicare B being accepted for eligible people. For children 18 years of age and younger, the cost is $10, with the Kid Care public aid program accepted. No child will be denied the vaccine, Lebahn said.

The seasonal flu clinics should be finished before the H1N1 flu vaccines become available to the health department, Lebahn said. The seasonal and H1N1 flu shots are two separate vaccines.

The primary group of people at risk for the seasonal flu is the elderly. However, children, pregnant women and people with underlying health concerns are also encouraged to get seasonal flu shots.

For the H1N1 flu, the people most at risk are pregnant women, children ages 6 months to 24 years, health care providers and people taking care of children under age 6 months.