Officials with the Central Valley Health District are urging everyone older than 6 months of age to get a flu shot when the vaccines become available in September.
Robin Iszler, administrator of the health unit, said even with a normal flu season anticipated early vaccinations are important.
"People need to get the vaccination early so the immunity can build in their bodies," she said. "Nationally the flu season runs from late fall through the winter. In North Dakota the peak is February and March, about the time of the basketball tournaments, but we have cases earlier than that every year."
Iszler said no unusual outbreaks of flu have been reported overseas this year, which would seem to indicate normal flu activity in the United States.
The seasonal flu vaccine delivered in September will include components to provide immunity to the H1N1 flu, commonly called the swine flu, which created a lot of concern last fall and winter. It will furnish immunity to two other strains of influenza or flu.
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Marcia Bollingberg, director of nursing at the Central Valley Health District, said public clinics for flu shots would be organized in September and the CVHD offices would begin staying open Wednesday evenings in October. They also have brought back a common method of distributing vaccines that hasn't been used in years.
"The state of North Dakota purchased flu vaccine for the youth in schools," she said. "In October we will go to the schools and vaccinate the children."
Iszler said 19 of the 28 public health districts are participating in the pilot program. The intent is to determine if the community is better protected from flu if the school children, potentially carriers of the disease, are immunized.
"Obviously the parents will have to sign a consent form," Bollingberg said. "We'll send them home with the kids or they are available online."
Both the nasal inhalant and the injection form of the vaccine will be available for students and adults.
"The vaccine is safe with few side effects," Iszler said. "The nasal inhalant gives better coverage and is less painful so it is preferred by many people."
The nasal inhalant is only available to individuals between the ages of 2 and 49 years who do not have any chronic health problems.
Cost for flu shots administered at the Central Valley Health District or at one of its adult flu shot clinics is $30 and can be submitted to Medicare and private insurance companies. A $13.90 donation is requested for vaccinations administered during in school clinics.
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Anyone with questions about the vaccinations or the costs can call the Central Valley Health District at 252-8130.
Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at
(701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at
