It's Flu Shot Time

It's fall again, and the flu season will soon be upon us. Some clinics and even drug stores (e.g. Walgreen's) are already offering this year's version of the flu shot. This year's version will cover not only the seasonal flu strains, but also the H1N1 flu. By the beginning of October nearly all doctors and clinics will have the shots available, and they will definitely be available at local health departments and commissions on aging. A new wrinkle this year is the special version of the vaccine for senior citizens (65 and over) which contains four times the antigens of the normal version.
Some sources, including doctors, are erroneously telling patients that the shot is effective for only three months. The national Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC), however, states categorically that the shot is effective in persons with reasonably healthy immune systems for a full year. Most if not all state health departments will issue the same guidlines for the shot as those issued by the CDC, so you can consider the CDC's information most reliable For further information on the subject, log onto http://www.cdc.gov.
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