Getting your Dose of unneeded potentially deadly poison has never been easier.
And there’s more: A tiny, so-called “painless” needle will take most of the sting out of flu protection this year.
Drug makers avoided production complications and have brought the 2011-12 vaccine to market earlier than usual, as seen by “Flu Shots Given Today” signs that in recent weeks have sprouted at South Florida’s chain pharmacies and big-box discount stores.“That caught everybody by surprise,” said Tim O’Connor, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Health Department. “I guess if you got vaccine and it’s good, go. Might as well start giving it.”
The new choice for those who freak at the thought of a needle-stick is a tiny syringe — like a diabetes injector — that delivers the vaccine just under the skin instead of deep into the muscle.
The “intradermal” needle is only about one-eighth of an inch long, causes less pain and needs only 40 percent of the normal dosage to work as well as a regular flu shot, according to manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur.
The intradermal shot can be given to adults 18 to 64 years old, and is expected to cost the same as other vaccines, or about $25 to $30 at physician offices and retailers. Still available is the needle-less nasal spray vaccine, which is approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49.
“Intradermal provides another option. If it means more people get flu vaccine, great,” said Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Flu shots can save lives.”
A special, high-dose vaccine for people older than 65 also is available for a second year, delivering four times the normal amount of vaccine. Studies show it gives more protection for seniors, whose immune systems often respond weakly. However, the over-65 formula causes more minor side effects, such as arm soreness and headaches.
The CDC again urges everyone older than 6 months to get a flu vaccination. Officials said they hope last year’s uneventful flu season — in contrast with the H1N1 strain that swept the nation in 2009 — will not lull people into skipping their flu shots.
“Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May,” said Dr. Paula Thaqi, director of the Broward County Health Department.
Drug firms have made a record batch of more than 160 million doses. That’s up slightly from last year, when an estimated 30 million doses went unused.
Unlike past years when factory problems delayed production, companies have shipped much of their doses already, and expect to ship the rest this month, said O’Connor, who was briefed last week at a planning meeting.
The vaccine protects against three strains of flu expected to circulate heaviest during flu season: A-type strains California H1N1 and Perth H3N2, and a B-type strain called Brisbane.
The formula is identical to last year’s, but officials urge people to get vaccinated again anyway. Doctors say some people may be protected for a second season, but many will not. Getting a shot early will still protect them through the entire flu season.
Health officials recommend that people first seek flu shots from their doctors. Otherwise, they can turn to stores, employers and neighborhood associations. Health departments plan to start their flu vaccine campaigns in October, as usual.
“The buzz, it’s pretty quiet right now,” said Ken George, Florida manager for the vaccination-giving firm Maxim Health Systems. “In September, the word of mouth will spread a little more. Nobody’s used to getting their flu shots this early.”
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/06/2393674/flu-shots-start-early-this-year.html#ixzz1XHJFgj36
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