All-in-one shot available early

With temperatures hovering near 100 degrees, it’s hard to think about flu shots and flu season. Still, health officials are urging the public to get vaccinated against the virus as early as they can.

This year’s flu shot – which provides protection against the 2009 H1N1, the H3N2 virus and influenza B viruses – is already available at some area pharmacies, much earlier than in previous years.

“The earlier they (the public) get them the better,” said Christine Mann, an assistant press secretary with the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin. “The timing and duration of the flu seasons vary from year to year, so that is why we advise people to get the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available.”

Officials do not anticipate any shortages of the vaccine this year, as in previous years.

People last year received two inoculations – one for influenza and the second for the H1N1, or swine flu, virus. This year there is a just one injection that combines them.

Influenza season is generally considered to be November through April.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older be vaccinated against influenza. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to kick in.

“Influenza is serious, and anyone, including healthy people, can get the flu and spread the flu,” Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC told the Associated Press. “Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and those around you.”

Cameron County ordered 1,500 doses from a flu vaccine manufacturer and hopes to receive the shipment sometime this month, said Esmeralda Guajardo, assistant health administrator for the county.

“We have yet to receive that vaccine. We don’t get a date when we are going to receive it, but generally it comes in September,” she said.

About 500 doses are reserved for county employees, with the remaining 1,000 allocated for the general public, Guajardo said. Because there is a limited number of doses available, the vaccine is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and at a cost of $15 per person.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has ordered more than 1.9 million doses of the vaccine. As of Tuesday, it had received 535,670 doses that have been disseminated to state health service regions, Mann said.

The state agency expects to receive the remaining doses on a continuous basis and anticipates receiving the whole 1.9 million by the end of the year.

Vaccine provided by the state to clinics is offered at a very low cost or no cost to children, officials said.

Flu shots are available at area pharmacies, although the cost varies. CVS and Walgreen’s charge $29.99, while H-E-B charges $25. The shots are free to individuals with Medicare Part B.

As of Tuesday, the shots were not yet available at Walmart and Target pharmacies.

The Brownsville Independent School District, one of the city’s largest employers, began offering free flu shots to its employees on Monday, said Drue Brown, spokeswoman for BISD.

According to the Associated Press, flu vaccine manufacturers estimate that there will be 170 million doses available nationwide.