Flu shots offered by the county

Now's the perfect time to get vaccinated against the flu, state and county public health officials say.

Crow Wing Public Health, along with the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Coalition for Adult Immunization and other organizations, are sponsoring their annual "Ban the Bug" campaign that runs this week, Sunday through Saturday.

The campaign promotes vaccinations against the seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses.

Gwen Anderson, nurse manager for Crow Wing Public Health, said the H1N1 vaccine is now available to everyone and the county is offering another H1N1 flu clinic, as part of the "Ban the Bug" campaign, from noon to 4 p.m. Friday at the former Book World location at the Westgate Mall to distribute more vaccine to the general population. Two other walk-in H1N1 clinics are planned from 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Tuesday and Jan. 26 at Crow Wing Public Health, 204 Laurel St., Brainerd.

No appointments are needed for these walk-in clinics. The clinics are for everyone ages 6 months and older.

While the H1N1 vaccine is available at several area clinics and businesses that offer vaccinations, many of them charge an administrative fee. The county offers the H1N1 vaccine at no cost.

"We're really hoping to target those children who need their second shots and those who may have financial barriers," said Anderson. "We don't want financial reasons to be a barrier for people getting that protection."

Anderson said the county has administered nearly 6,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine so far. But that's only about 10 percent of the population that county public health serves.

"We want to build that. We have a lot of vaccine left so we want to get it out there," said Anderson. "The flu season lasts through May. We're not quite over the hump of the flu season yet."

Kristin Ehresmann, director of the state Department of Health's infectious disease division, said in a news release that it's not too late to get vaccinated for H1N1 or the seasonal flu. She said while influenza illnesses have declined in the state, there is still sporadic activity. She said four states still have widespread flu activity and 13 states report regional activity. The flu season may continue for several weeks or months yet and at the same time, vaccine supply is increasing, said Ehresmann.

"This presents us with a window of opportunity to protect ourselves through vaccination from any possible new wave of disease," said Ehresmann.

Anderson said there haven't been any negative side effects reported from those who received the H1N1 vaccine in the county, mentioning this because there may be many who are hesitant to receive the vaccine.

"We've done so many and we've never seen any negative effects from it," said Anderson.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.