Tiny shot in the arm poised to tame three strains of flu
S.D. aims to maintain nation's highest immunization rate
Flu shot season accelerates this week with clinics in schools and businesses and with South Dakota hoping to improve what already is the nation's No. 1 vaccination rate.
A clinic from 3 to 5 p.m. today at Lincoln High School opens a series of sessions the Sioux Falls School District is sponsoring in coming weeks to give free shots to students in grades 6-12.
Medicare card-holders can get free shots Thursday morning at Active Generations, and a public clinic, Falls Community Health, will offer the vaccine later this month.
This year's target is three strains of influenza. One shot will do the trick in most cases.
"It didn't hurt at all," Colletta Stewart, 75, a retired saleswoman, said after taking a needle to the right biceps Monday at Lewis Drug.
The basic fee for the vaccine is $28 each weekday afternoon at Lewis stores, said registered pharmacist Sara Hicks. But for Stewart it was free because of Medicare, and it is free at many businesses that set up in-house clinics for their employees.
Influenza killed 20 people in South Dakota in the 2010-11 season. That was a period nonetheless that the state ranked first in the nation with 55.6 percent of the population receiving flu vaccine. The national rate was 43 percent, said state epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger, quoting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Publicity about flu, a harsh climate and what Hicks calls "our Midwest code of ethics" all add up to the state's high rating.
"A little pain goes a long way to keeping you healthy for the winter," said Shelley Hanisch, director of development at Active Generations.
Kevin Knetsch, human resources manager at Bierschbach Equipment and Supply, said 85 percent or more of the company's workers get the shot each year. Twenty-two of them received the vaccine at an in-house clinic the business hosted Monday.
"This is just one way we can take care of them, and it helps the company at the same time," he said.
Most people need a single vaccination as defense against type A, A-H1N1 and type B flu, Hicks said. A higher dose against the same three strains is available from some providers and sometimes advised. It is four times as potent with more side effects.
"Your arm is going to hurt, and some people get a headache," Hicks said.
A nasal mist is an alternative for people age 2 to 49 if they are healthy and not pregnant, she said.
Children age 6 months to 8 years need the vaccine and, if it is the first of their lives, would need a booster four weeks later, she said. Anyone older than 9 years would not need a booster, even if the shot is a first.
The availability of shots for children in Sioux Falls public schools also varies. Middle and high school students will be able to receive free shots in different buildings in a schedule starting today and running through Nov. 3.
The district does not provide shots in its elementary schools because of differing needs that arise with the booster, the nasal mist option and other variables children in grades K-5 might face.
"We feel younger children are better served by their family physicians," said DeeAnn Konrad, community relations supervisor for the school district.
Falls Community Health does provide free flu shots in two elementary buildings where it runs school-based clinics. The sessions will be Oct. 10-12 at Terry Redlin and Oct. 17-19 at Hawthorne for students enrolled there.
Falls Community also will provide flu shots to the general public 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at 521 N. Main Ave. Spokeswoman Stacie Fredenburg said the basic cost is $29 per shot, but most clients will pay less based on a sliding scale according to income.
Reach reporter Jon Walker at 331-2206 or 800-530-6397.
