By Britney Milazzo
The Tonawanda News
LOCKPORT —
Niagara County Department of Health officials said Wednesday afternoon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guaranteed the area that there will not be any shortages on the flu vaccine this year.
Elaine Roman, public information officer for the department and emergency preparedness coordinator, said officials do have a plan if shortages occur.
“Counties work with each other,” she said, explaining officials will look for help from other counties upstate that may have an excess amount.
Wanda Smiley, director of patients, said hospitals and pharmacies received the vaccine first, and the health department will begin to distribute it as soon as late October. There is no charge associated with the health department shot.
“It got into the county slowly,” Smiley said. “Every practice ordered the vaccine in different amounts.”
Unlike last year’s Swine Flu outbreak that killed two in Niagara County — a student from Niagara-Wheatfield and an individual from Newfane — medical professionals think getting the point across to the public to “get vaccinated” will end the fear of any kind of flu outbreak.
“Essentially we want to eliminate the flu completely from this area,” pharmacist Steve Giroux said in an interview last week. “This flu shot will help us strive for our goal.”
But Smiley said despite some public skepticism about the vaccine, it is something she thinks everyone should get.
“The flu and H1N1 come in a combination vaccine this year,” Smiley said. “They’re really getting a good protection.”
If people do not get vaccinated, Roman said “good sanitation” is a good way to prevent the flu from spreading.
“Most diseases are spread by touching someone else with the germ. It’s as simple as always washing your hands and keeping away from those who are vulnerable,” Roman said. “A person can spread the flu 24 hours before any symptoms show.”
She said if you feel like you’re getting sick, completely stay away from others.
“Don’t send your kids to school or other congregate settings if they have even the slightest sign of a sickness,” Roman said.
And their main message is to protect the public from the flu, because as slight as it my seem, Giroux said is can turn deadly.
“People just don’t seem to take the flu seriously, but it is,” Giroux said. “Protect yourself and get vaccinated.”
