'Tis the season for flu shots

Registered nurse Deb Piper(left) gives a flu shot to Lori Tuft. Both are employees of the Bureau County Health Department. Again this year, the health department will hold flu shot clinics around the county, with the first major clinic set for Oct. 23 in Princeton. (BCR photo/Terri Simon)

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PRINCETON — For some people, the surefire signs of autumn may be falling leaves and football games. But for others, one surefire sign of fall is the start of flu season.

With that in mind, the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department has announced its schedule for fall flu clinics.

Diana Rawlings, administrator for the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department, said the health department’s annual community flu shot clinic and disaster drill is set for Oct. 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. at New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Princeton. 

“We hope to have a big response to this clinic again this year, to help us practice our disaster drill,” Rawlings said. “However, additional flu clinics will also be held in neighboring communities.”

Joy Jarczewski, health education coordinator for the local health department, said the Oct. 23 clinic will again provide people with the opportunity to receive their flu shots inside the church or on the free shuttle bus running from the health department parking lot to the church. Also, people who are unable to walk into the church may receive their flu shot in their car, she said.

“Last year we discovered the most convenient way for people to get their flu shot seemed to be by riding the shuttle bus over to the church and receiving their shot right on the bus,” Rawlings said. “Parking is limited at the church.”

Also at this year’s clinic, the health department will offer Flu-Mist vaccines to individuals ages 2 through 49. Flu-Mist is a painless nasal mist that may provide protection from influenza even longer than the flu shot, Jarczewski said. However, individuals with asthma or certain medical conditions are not able to receive Flu-Mist vaccine.

The cost of the flu shot is $25 for ages 19 years and older. For children ages 6 months through 18 years, the cost is $10. The health department will accept Medicare Part B or the OSF Medicare Advantage Card. For individuals with private health insurance, receipts will be provided upon request.

According to Illinois Health Department statistics, the flu season runs roughly from Thanksgiving to Easter in the United States. In a typical year, up to 10 percent of Americans get the flu, more than 200,000 are sick enough to require hospitalization, and about 36,000 die from the infection. But getting a flu vaccine can reduce a person’s risk of catching the flu by up to 80 percent.

As in previous years, the health department’s Communicable Disease Coordinator Pat Lebahn said people can help prevent the flu by following some common sense good hygiene practices, especially frequent hand-washing.

Also, people should keep their distance from others with the flu. The flu is most contagious within three feet of an infected person. If people get the flu, they should stay home from work or school, Lebahn said.

For more information on the coming flu clinics and flu season, contact the Health Department at (815) 872-5091.

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