With fall season comes the flu

It’s that time of year again when you might want to ask yourself: Have I gotten my shot yet?

The dreaded flu season is now in full swing, and since many doctors say vaccines are effective in preventing the virus’ inconvenient symptoms and are capable of reducing the risk of spreading it to others, many recommend you ask yourself that question.

Various clinics in the Bloomington area are offering the flu vaccine, including the IU Health Center, the Monroe County Public Health Clinic and Minute Clinics at CVS locations.

“Some people don’t understand that it is different every year, and they need to get a new one to protect themselves against that season,” said Amy Meek, head nurse at the Monroe County Public Health Clinic.

Each year, according to the Center for Disease Control website, the World Health Organization decides on the composition of the vaccine for the upcoming flu season.

The vaccine is then agreed upon by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration committee and put into production.

This year the vaccine includes an H1N1-like strain of the virus, a H3N2-like strain of the virus and a Brisbane, Australia-like strain of the virus, as all of these were prevalent strains recently.

Last year the main concern for health officials was the H1N1 strain, which developed rapidly. On Aug.10, the WHO announced an end to the 2009 H1N1 epidemic, but it warned the virus will spread for years, similar to a seasonal flu virus.

CDC advises on its website that everyone six months or older should get the flu vaccine, including those who got the H1N1 vaccine last year.

Because different strains of the flu virus occur every year, altered vaccinations are the only way to fully protect patients from the virus.

“Each year there’s a different strain in it, and this year a strain of the H1N1 is in it because we know we are at risk in this area,” Meek said referring to flu vaccines.

Meek also recommended the public to get vaccinated for the current flu season.

“I think some people have misconceptions about the flu vaccinations and are worried about side effects,” Meek said.

Meek and many other nurses and doctors believe vaccinations are necessary to protect the general public, but some IU students have different opinions.

“I don’t feel like they’re necessary,” senior Rebecca Dille said. “I don’t get them because I’m a pretty healthy person.”

Graduate student Chris Eichstedt agreed the flu shots could be beneficial for some people but said he doesn’t feel he needs it.

“I can’t remember ever getting one, nor the last time I properly had the flu,” Eichstedt said.

On the other hand, graduate student Sean McKee said he gets a flu shot annually and encourages others to do the same.

“I get one because losing a few days of productivity in grad school is terrible,” he said. “The network effect of someone getting the flu is astounding. So this is preventing more and more people from getting the disease.”

The IU Health Center offers flu vaccinations to students who are enrolled in more than three credit hours at a price of $17.25 at various locations on campus. IU students can receive flu vaccinations from the Minute Clinics at CVS locations or the Monroe County Public Health Clinic for $23.

“The flu vaccine is very effective for the strains in that vaccine,” Meek said.