Chase County Community Hospital recommends flu shot after Oct. 1

Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial will be receiving their first batch of immunization for influenza shots soon. The Center for Disease Control is recommending that the public take their annual flu shot as soon as it is available.
Jodi Spady, Physician’s Assistant Certified with CCCH, advises waiting until after Oct. 1 to get the shot is more beneficial.  The effectiveness of the shot is about three months, and the peak of flu season in Chase County is the January through February time frame, she said.
Everyone six months and older is recommended to take the shot.  People recommended to take the shot as soon as they are available are pregnant women and anyone who will be traveling internationally, she said.
Besides pregnant women and their unborn people at greatest risk for flu complications are:
People 65 and older
People with respiratory issues
Asthma sufferers
Diabetes
Chronic kidney disease
Cancer
Every year the CDC decides the formulation of multiple flu strains to be used in that year’s immunization shot, so the shot we receive this year will be different from last year, she said.
If you are needing your flu shot before the Oct. 1 recommended time, call CCCH for availability, after Oct. 1 walk-ins to the clinic are welcome Monday through Friday after 9 a.m.