And with the flu season upon us, Bozard recommends everyone get the shot.
“It’s very good coverage,” she said.
While no vaccine is a guarantee against getting the flu, Bozard says the shot weakens the strength of the disease if you do get the flu.
Bozard herself has yet to get the flu since she began getting the flu shot about 25 years ago.
Even healthy people should get it, she says, because the regular flu could develop into pneumonia or other complications. Though these flu-related complications are rare in healthy people, “it does happen,” she says.
And the shot supply the county received this year is a healthy helping.
About six years ago, Bozard says there wasn’t much flu vaccine produced. Clinics had to prioritize who could get the shot then. But this year, and every year since that dry time, supply has been hefty.
However, when the first shipments arrive this fall against the novel A strain H1N1 that surfaced last spring, there will be only certain people who can receive the shot until more vaccine comes in.
But as far as the regular flu vaccine that’s here now, that is made of virus strains based on flu trends around the world, specifically flu strains carried in the southern hemisphere when it is winter season, which occurs during summer months in the United States.
The flu changes as it spreads, so a shot to fight it must also change.
“It’s developed based on what is the predominate strain throughout the world,” says Bozard. “What we base ours on is on the Southern Hemisphere.”
Another part of the shot’s make up should stop the rumor that getting a flu shot will give you the flu.
About 20 or 30 years ago, the flu vaccine was made with a live virus and it was possible to get the flu from the shot, Bozard says.
Now, the shot is made from dead virus strains.
“It is not possible (to get the flu from the shot) because the flu shot is not made with a live virus,” says Bozard. “It cannot give you the flu.”
However, getting the modern flu shot may cause the patient to have mild side effects and run a brief fever, “but that’s rare,” says Bozard.
Appointments for the shot are available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning today.
The Health Department will also hold a Saturday morning flu shot clinic by appointment on Sept. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
There is a $25 charge for the vaccination, which Medicare and Medicaid will cover for adults who are eligible. The VAFAC program covers the cost for children under 18.
“Please do not let cost prevent you from seeking your flu shot,” says Bozard. “Ask how we can help.”
The clinic also has pneumonia vaccines and combined shots for tetanus and diphtheria and combined shots for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis at no extra cost.
Call 321-2170 to schedule an appointment.
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