Health Department recommends flu shots for residents

The Influenza vaccine, recommended for everyone aged six months and older, is now available at Adams County Health Department clinics in Ritzville and Othello. The flu shot is safe and effective at preventing flu disease and illness. There is no live flu virus in flu shots so they cannot cause the flu.

An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect an individual or family from the flu.

Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses; doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

The more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from flu, including older people, very young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.

There are many different strains of flu viruses and they are constantly changing. Flu vaccines are reviewed annually and updated to better match circulating strains.

Some flu vaccines protect against three strains of flu viruses (trivalent vaccine) and others protect against four strains (quadrivalent). Either one is recommended to protect against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be the most common this flu season.

Eggs are used in the production of flu vaccines. There are new recommendations this year for people with egg allergies. People who have experienced only hives after exposure to eggs can safely get any vaccine that is appropriate for their age and health.

People who have had more severe symptoms, such as angioedema (swelling of the lips, tongue, face, etc), respiratory distress, lightheadedness, repeated vomiting, or who have needed emergency medical intervention after exposure to eggs can also get a flu vaccine that is appropriate for their age and health.

But the vaccine should be given in a medical setting and supervised by a health care provider who is able to manage severe allergic conditions.

Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible.

However, getting vaccinated later is okay. Vaccination should continue throughout the flu season, even in early 2017.

Some children may need two doses of flu vaccine to be fully protected from the flu. For adults over the age of 65, there are also two pneumococcal vaccines to prevent pneumonia. One protects against 13 strains of pneumonia and the other against 23 different strains.

These vaccines are recommended to be given a year apart. Both are available at the Health Department and at many physicians’ offices.

Immunizations are offered at the Health Department in Ritzville, located at 108 West Main Street, every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact Adams County Health Department for further information about vaccines to protect against flu or pneumonia, call 659-3315.