Sept. 27--Now that fall has officially arrived, so has flu season. Local and state officials have one piece of advice: Get vaccinated.
Last year there were 2,045 reported cases of influenza in North Dakota, according to Lindsey VanderBusch, influenza surveillance coordinator with the North Dakota Department of Health.
"We know that's a gross underestimate of the people infected in this state," VanderBusch said.
Often times medical providers won't report the case if flu season is in full swing and people keep returning with the same symptoms, she said.
"Influenza definitely impacts a lot of people in North Dakota every year and we should always be vigilant about getting vaccinated," VanderBusch said.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices suggests that anyone over the age of sixth months gets vaccinated.
Groups especially at risk include the young, the elderly, those with chronic illness, and caretakers of the elderly or those with chronic illness, said Marcia Bollingberg, director of nursing at Central Valley Health District.
Again, this year people have two options for the vaccine. The first is a shot which is an inactivated vaccine. The other option for people who don't like needles is FluMist, a nasal spray which is a live attenuated vaccine.
The FluMist can only be used on those who are between the ages of 2 and 50 and who are not pregnant. Primarily children use it because there is no shot.
While both vaccines have different delivery methods, and one is live and the other is dead, they both protect against three different types of influenza that research indicates will be common this year, Bollingberg said.
The vaccine protects against influenza A (H1N1) and (H3N2) as well as against an influenza B.
Abbi Pierce, immunization surveillance coordinator with the North Dakota Department of Health, said younger adults should get the vaccine too, even if just to reduce the chances of people catching the disease around them.
"Everyone who wants to be protected should be protected," Pierce said.
Everyone also has many options on where to receive the vaccine.
Even Walmart in Jamestown offers the flu vaccine. This is in addition to each health clinic in town as well as Central Valley Health District offering the vaccine.
Bollingberg said the cost is $30, and Pierce said most health insurance plans cover a flu vaccine.
CVHD will distribute vaccines from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Clinics at public schools also start Oct. 13 and forms will be available from students, at the schools or at CVHD.
If unsure whether a health insurance plan covers the immunization, people can check the back of their insurance cards and dial member services with questions.
Finally, Bollingberg said the best way to avoid the flu is to use common sense.
"The best thing people can do is get their annual flu shot, wash their hands, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze and stay home when they're sick," she said.
Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com
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