Flu-shot season starts early

WASHINGTON - It's flu-shot season already and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated.

There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older.

What a difference a year makes: Crowds lined up for hours for scarce shots during last fall's swine flu pandemic, when infections peaked before enough vaccine could be produced.

This year, a record vaccine supply is expected - an all-in-one inoculation that now promises protection against that swine flu strain plus two other kinds of influenza.

Shipments began so early that drugstores are offering vaccinations amid their back-to-school sales.

In and around Toledo, most national chain pharmacies already are posting signs that the flu vaccine is available. Chain grocery stores with pharmacies also are advertising that they have the vaccine.

Mercy Health Partners has received shipments of the flu vaccine but won't distribute the shots until October during a vaccine clinic at Mercy St. Charles Hospital, spokesman Sarah Bednarski said.

Dr. David Ledrick, an emergency room physician at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, saw fewer patients with flu symptoms than he expected to see last year.

He also doesn't expect to treat an unusual number of flu patients this year.

"If this year is anything like last year it will be a reasonable season," he said.

Generally, flu symptoms include fever, aches, and a dry cough.

Flu sufferers should seek emergency medical atten-tion if they can't control their fever or hydration, Dr. Ledrick said.

Not every local pharmacy is rolling out an early flu shot campaign.

Prak Naik, owner and pharmacist at The Drug Store of Perrysburg, said he has some flu vaccine in stock, but isn't planning to advertise for shots until late September.

Mr. Naik said he believes flu vaccines work best for four months after injection and he wouldn't want to vaccinate people too early if flu season should peak in February.

"I'm not sure if giving early protection is a guarantee for protection into the new year," he said.

Without last year's scare factor, the question is how many people will heed the new policy for near-universal vaccination.

No more stopping to check if you're on a high-risk list: A yearly dose is recommended for virtually everyone except babies younger than 6 months - the shot isn't approved for children that young - and people with severe allergies to the eggs used to brew it.

"Influenza is serious, and anyone, including healthy people, can get the flu and spread the flu," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and those around you."

The CDC was moving toward that policy even before last year's pandemic brought home an inescapable fact: The flu virus doesn't just kill grandparents and babies and people with weak lungs or hearts, although they're particularly vulnerable. It also can kill healthy pregnant women and 30-somethings. And 5-year-olds.

"We were discussing how we were going to go get his Star Wars Halloween costume after he got out of the hospital … and all of a sudden his eyes lost their focus," said Serese Marotta of Dayton, describing for reporters how her son Joseph, 5, died of swine flu last October before vaccine was available in her community.

She urged families to make vaccination a priority.

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A CVS in Rockville, Md., promotes its flu shots. A record supply of vaccine for an all-in-one inoculation is expected. EVAN VUCCI / AP Enlarge

It's flu-shot season already and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated.