Getting Ready for The 2010 - 2011 Flu Season

While the H1N1 pandemic appears to be over, H1N1 viruses, along with other influenza viruses (H3N2 and influenza B) are now circulating in countries where flu season is opposite ours.  While it cannot be known in advance which influenza viruses will predominate in any given year, the 2009 H1N1 virus, along with influenza A H3N2 viruses and influenza B viruses may circulate in the United States during its upcoming influenza season.  The 2010-2011 influenza vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. Even those who have already been vaccinated for H1N1 need to get the flu vaccine to be protected against the other viruses. Vaccine will be arriving soon.  Watch this site or check with your clinic or pharmacy for details. Goodhue County Public Health Service will be scheduling flu clinics at schools and other locations, including the Public Health office, this Fall.

NOTE:  Due to the sale of our Home Care Program, Goodhue County Public Health Service will no longer be able to bill Medicare for Flu Shots.  Check with clinics, pharmacies, and other flu vaccination providers if you are looking for a flu shot covered by Medicare.  Public Health will charge a $25 fee for adult flu shots, $14 for children and for adults who are uninsured or whose insurance does not completely pay for flu vaccination.

NEW THIS YEAR!!

• Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu.  By vaccinating more people, less flu will spread and those at high risk of serious flu complications will be more protected.
• Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of sever flu illness. People at high risk of serious flu complications include infants younger than 6 months, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
• Vaccination is also important for health care workers and other people who live with or care for high risk persons to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
  

For more information go to http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/index.html or call Goodhue County Public Health Service at 651-385-6100.