The speed of delivery of a flu shot today has changed in a way that removing the “I just don’t have time” excuse seems to make sense. I remember many years ago waiting with hundreds of people in a line at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake for a flu shot by the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH). I was a bit self-conscious because I was much younger than the majority of the people in line and I thought they were looking at me wondering why I was there. So I said loudly, “my child has asthma.” They still looked at me but they moved further away.
Long lines eventually disappeared as online appointments grew in popularity. In only a few minutes online, you could select the time, location, and method of payment. MCDH opened up one day pre-scheduled clinics around McHenry County. You just had to find the most convenient location. The county health department became very busy; its nurses administered flu vaccine every few minutes and kept in step with the health department’s online schedule. Eventually pharmacies became a significant part of the picture with Osco, Walgreens, and CVS leading the way with their vaccination clinics. The McHenry County Department of Health scaled down its flu clinic operations though doctors’ offices continued offering the flu vaccine. While the methods of speed and delivery have improved, the reasons for the flu shot remain the same.
Although flu season is still a few months away, it’s never too early to revisit the importance of the vaccine especially when you read about the large number of people in the U.S. alone that die from influenza every year. Dr. Laura Buthod, medical director of the McHenry County Department of Health, believes the number of flu victims approaches 80,000 yearly. Buthod, a board certified pediatrician, appreciates opportunities to provide information on flu season. With 26 years of practice in Crystal Lake, Buthod knows it’s a somewhat uphill battle because “some people don’t think much about the flu.”
As for who should receive the vaccine, Buthod notes pregnant women, elderly, young, and those with diabetes and respiratory issues are priority groups.
“Who wants to be sick and miss work or miss school and fall behind? Access to vaccines is so great, there’s no reason not to get it,” she said.
The list of people in need of a flu shot includes caretakers, nurses, and various health workers. Buthod, a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, also added in the senior care team with assisted living facilities. They too should receive a vaccination because of their close contact with assisted living residents.
“Very important that they are immunized so they don’t endanger these key groups of people susceptible to the flu. We have to protect those who can’t protect themselves,” Buthod said.
Once you receive the flu vaccine, don’t expect it to protect you immediately.
“Lot of times it takes the flu vaccine two weeks to work. You may become exposed because the vaccine didn’t have enough time to work,” she said.
If you are not sure you are fully immunized, if you are going to be a new grandparent, make sure you get your flu shot and vaccine for whooping cough and every ten years, a tetanus booster.
“A shingles vaccine is helpful as people approach 50,” she said.
Buthod warns that shingles can cause a lot of pain and discomfort: “A second shingles vaccine has come out. It’s a series of two vaccinations. The first vaccine doesn’t last as long as we hoped it would, so it’s important to receive the new vaccine.”
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows Shingrix is 97 percent effective for people over 50 in preventing shingles. You might talk to your doctor about shingles and the second vaccine. Pharmacies also offer a variety of vaccines. The list includes vaccines against pneumonia, polio, chicken pox, shingles, and (Tdap) tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Travel immunizations are offered too.
The McHenry County Department of Health is also launching an immunization campaign this month with an emphasis on measles.
“We have had nine cases of measles in the state of Illinois. With O’Hare down the street, we are in an area of high risk for catching someone coming through…a traveler bringing measles to us, so we need to be fully immunized,” Buthod said.
Check out www.mcdh.info for more information from the McHenry County Department of Health.
