“We take insurance and most insurance companies seem to be covering the shots this year”.
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The Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) says that while the season usually doesn’t begin until October, Montana has had early influenza reports from six counties.
The 2015 flu vaccine is being touted as a far better option than last year’s ill-equipped version.
Ministry of Health figures show more people in Canterbury received an annual flu jab than any other district health board area.
According to the release, immunizations are also available in Mesquite at the Mesquite Public Health Center, 830 Hafen Lane, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m.
The shots are $25 each and are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
No appointments are necessary.
The highest coverage is among children age 6 months through 23 months at 75% and the lowest coverage is for adults age 18 to 49 at 40%. “(I) hope this year’s is effective”, Inwood said.
The flu vaccine should be more effective against the illness this year.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden, right, gets a flu shot from nurse B.K. Morris at the National Press Club in Washington. The clinics also will have shingles vaccine available in limited quantities for those persons 60 years and older and pneumonia vaccine for persons 65 years and older. The effectiveness of the vaccines remains dependant on the estimations of the virologists and epidemiologists about the virus mutations.
There are no guarantees, but this year’s vaccine has been updated to protect against that bug and other strains that specialists predict will spread. Flu-related hospitalizations of seniors were the highest recorded in the decade that CDC has counted.
Another 20 of the specimens were H1N1 viruses similar to the A/California/7/2009 strain that caused the so-called swine flu pandemic in 2009 and 2010. The vaccine is most effective when it’s a good match for the strains that will be in circulation that year.
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To complicate matters, there are over 100 different kinds of subtypes and viruses constantly mutate. Looking at hospital data, modeling programs, and sample of viruses, researchers have to make their best educated guess as to which strains are going to be hardest-hitting in the upcoming season. “Getting the flu vaccine will help you stay healthy this winter”. Pharmacists can assure them that influenza vaccines are safe during pregnancy and offer protection to babies as well.
