Keep the flu away with a shot in the arm

Pharmacist Mike Rossi

By Max Borsuk and Maria Yankova

BengalNews Reporters

With flu season in full swing, various locations on the West Side are offering the flu shot.

Even though flu activity last year was low, the timing of the flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season, therefore people should get vaccinated as soon as possible, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 “We get an early start just so people are prepared before it really starts to become a big deal,” said Rick Thompson, a technician at Rite Aid at 291 W. Ferry St.“ The biggest is between October and November. That’s usually when most people get flu shots. The numbers go down usually after Thanksgiving.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, flu shots should be given to everyone, starting with infants at least six months of age. There are certain groups, which are at a higher risk of getting the influenza virus than others. Some of those groups are pregnant women, people 65 years or older, and people who have medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and lung and heart disease.

According to Mike Rossi, a pharmacist at Rite Aid, everyone should get vaccinated.

“If we get everyone immunized, there’d be less sickness,” Rossi said.

An alternative to the flu vaccination is a nasal spray intended for children as young as two and up to the age of 49. The price of the flu shot and the nasal spray is $29.99 but it’s covered under most insurances.

“There’s really no excuse not to get it,” said Rossi.

Rick Thompson, on the process of getting a flu shot:

According to the New York State Department of Health, the 2012-2013 flu shot will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the H1N1 virus. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.

Children aged six months through eight years who have never been vaccinated need to get two doses of vaccine, spaced at least four weeks apart, according to the New York State Department of Health.

People with the flu virus may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick.

“The first symptoms are fever, cough, and overall feeling bad,” said Rossi. “You don’t want to  get the flu. It’s ugly.”

Rossi stressed thorough hand washing and using hand gel as prevention techniques against the influenza virus.

Other West Side locations that offer flu shots are the Buffalo Psychiatric Center at 400 Forest Ave. Rite Aid at 284 Connecticut St.  and Jericho Family Practice at 184 Barton St.

“The more people that get it, the less likely it is to spread,” said Thompson. Edited by Lakisha Forde