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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
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Fighting influenza Flu vaccines plentiful, but there are few takers Senior Reporter Hundreds of doses of flu vaccine are still waiting for willing arms.
"It really bothers me to see this vaccine just sitting there," said Joyce Mueller, Crow Wing County public health nurse director. "We'd like to use our vaccine to prevent the flu in anyone who wants to. Our role is to assure there is enough flu vaccine for the citizens who want a flu shot."
The county has about 650 doses of the vaccine, and with flu season still out there, Mueller would like people to take advantage of the supply yet this winter. A mild winter and a late-arriving vaccine supply may be contributing reasons as to why the county has so much vaccine left this year.
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Crow Wing County Public Health nurse Jennifer Mount gave 6-year-old Andrew Madsen his influenza immunization while he sat on the lap of his mother, Chris Madsen, last week at the Crow Wing County Community Services Building. Brainerd Dispatch/ Steve Kohls
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
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But Mueller said influenza is still out there. She said anyone in the high-risk group or others who don't want to be sick and miss work are candidates for the vaccine.
Influenza is not a stomach flu. Symptoms include a rapid onset of fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, non-productive cough, runny nose and headache.
"The flu vaccine will assist in keeping people healthy during the winter months when we are confined to our homes or going from home to work," Mueller said. "I think it's just a good idea for people to stay healthy."
Need a shot?
Crow Wing County public health sponsors daily clinics from 3-4 p.m. at the Community Service Building on Laurel Street in Brainerd. Walk-ins are welcome.
Shots also will be available from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays in February at the walk-in clinic.
Cost is $20.
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Those eligible for the flu shots range from 6-month old babies to the elderly. People considered high risk have chronic diseases like diabetes, are age 6 months to 5 years or older than 50, or serve as a caretaker for any high-risk person.
Mueller said the flu shot is a dead virus and will not cause people to become sick. Mueller has heard people say the shot made them sick in the past.
"It's just not possible for it to cause the flu," Mueller said.
She said people who have had that experience may have already been exposed to the flu before they received the shot. Infected individuals can spread the flu one day before they know they are ill.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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