Plenty of flu shots now available to public

H1N1 shots, seasonal flu shots and pneumonia shots will be available on a walk-in basis on Wednesday, Dec. 16 from 1-4 p.m., at the Kootenai Senior Center in Troy (304 Third St), and again in Libby on Thursday, Dec. 17 from 3-5 p.m. at the Libby Senior Citizens Center (206 E. Second St).

Lincoln County Public Health strongly encourages a flu vaccination for anyone over the age of 6 months, and especially those with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, asbestosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“The CDC reports one in six Americans, about 50 million people, had H1N1 flu between April and mid-November and 10,000 died from it,” said Amy Smart of Lincoln County Public Health. “Influenza typically comes in waves. We are currently seeing a lull in influenza like illness activity in Lincoln County and the U.S., but this is likely only a lull.”

The H1N1 vaccine is free and now available to the general public.

“Flu shots are made with inactivated bits and pieces of dead virus so that your body can recognize the real virus when it comes along,” Smart said. “The vaccine cannot actually give you the flu. The flu shot keeps you from getting the flu.”

Smart said it’s not possible to predict what will happen in the weeks and months ahead.

“More than 50 years ago, during the pandemic in 1957-58, there was a large surge in cases at the beginning of the school year, then a waning of cases,” she said. “In December, January and February, there was a big increase in the number of people who were severely ill or who died.”

For more information, call Smart at 293-3374.