Give yourself a shot to fight the flu

Syracuse, NY – Flu season is just around the corner and the Onondaga County Health Department is doing it’s part to make sure seasonal flu vaccines are readily available to the people of Central New York.  Tuesday marked the first of fourteen clinics scheduled throughout the area to administer flu vaccines.  178 people showed up at the Solvay-Geddes Community Youth Center to get their flu shots including Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

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“I typically get a flu shot because I’m the County Executive, so the County Health Department makes sure that I get a flu shot,” Mahoney said. “And my children get an annual flu shot from their pediatrician every year.”

The Center for Disease Control suggests that anyone over the age of 6 months receive a flu vaccine.  However, Program Coordinator Kathy Mogle said that it is important for certain people to get a flu shot because they are at higher risk.

“If you’re a young child, or if you’re pregnant,” said Mogle.  “Perhaps you have an underlying medicial condition, or you’re a senior.  You could have a little more high complications from the flu.”

“It’s important to get a vaccine so they’re protected and also so they protect others from getting the flu,” added University of Rochester Medical Center Flu Program Coordinator Robin Drypolcher.  “Some people who get the flu, if they have disease process, diabetics, lung disease, young children, the elderly.  They are most at risk for having very serious illness and there are even deaths every year related to the flu.”

H1N1 Vaccines

In 2009, the H1N1 Swine Flu was a major health concern throughout the country and a second vaccine was developed to help combat this particular version of the flu.  However, this year the H1N1 vaccine is included with the standard flu shot.

“This year those strains are part of the shot,” said Mahoney.  “You only need one shot and we’re hoping people take it just as seriously as last year and get in and protect not only themselves but the whole community.”

“It’s called a trivalent vaccine,” added Drypolcher.  “The H1N1 has been incorporated into the vaccine along with two other strains that have been determined to be the most at risk this flu season.  The World Health Organization and CDC got together to determine which strains are the most at risk and what should be put into the vaccine.”

How to get a flu shot

A seasonal vaccination at one of the Onondaga County health clinics costs $30.  Additionally, there are multiple types of vaccinations.  A person can choose to receive the standard injection of the dead virus or they can receive the vaccination nasally with a live virus.  The nasal option poses additional risks, specifically for those that are immunosuppressant.

Before receiving the vaccination, one must sign a consent form and be tested for certain allergies.

“We always double check any allergy to eggs, any allergy to latex,” said Drypolcher.  “Have they had any problems with the vaccine in the past?  Then we make a determination that they’re safe to receive the vaccine.”

For more information on the seasonal flu vaccine or to register for a flu shot, visit On Flu or contact the Onondaga Health Department at (315) 435-5752.