Story County Public Health Flu Clinics
Ames
Mary Greeley Home Health Services Office
1114 Duff Ave
Every Mondays & Wednesdays 8-12:30 & Fridays 10-2pm
Keystone Apartments
3115 Roy Key Ave
September 26th, Thursday 1-2:30pm
October 24th, Thursday 1-2:30pm
Stonehaven Apartments
421 Stonehaven Drive
September 24th, Tuesday 10-11:30am
October 22nd, Tuesday 10-11:30am
Heartland Senior Center
205 South Walnut St.
September 30, Monday 10-noon
Regency Apartments
3001 Regency Court
October 1st, Tuesday 10-11:30am
Windsor Oaks Apartments
1100 Adams St.
October 17th, Wednesday 1-2:30pm
Collins
Collins Senior Center
October 15th, Tuesday 9-10am
Huxley
Nord-Kalsem Community Center
170 West 5th Street
October 3rd, Thursday 1-2:30pm
Ballard Creek Assistant Living
908 North Highway 69
October 9th, Wednesday 1-3pm
Colo
Colo Community Center
309 Main Street
October 15th, Tuesday 10:30-11:45am
Nevada
Meadows Apartments
402 5th Street
October 15th, Tuesday 1-3pm
Your Flu Shot Questions Answered
Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, medical director for the IDPH, says, “Based on CDC estimates, an average of 300,000 Iowans get the flu every year and together, flu and its complication of pneumonia causes an average of 1,000 deaths yearly in Iowa.”
Q: Can the flu shot give you the flu? If not, why do some people not feel well after getting the flu shot?
A: A flu shot cannot give you the flu. Flu shot vaccines are either made with an inactivated version of the virus and are therefore not infectious, or they are made with no vaccine viruses at all. People not feeling well after the shot is often caused by a person’s immune system making protective antibodies in response to being vaccinated. These antibodies are what allows the body to fight against the flu.
Q: There are a few different flu vaccines. What are the differences between them? Are there certain groups of people who should get one over the other?
A: When it comes to flu vaccines there are trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines. Trivalent vaccines protect against two influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus. As its name would suggest, a quadrivalent vaccine protects against four viruses – two influenza A and two influenza B. While the flu shot is recommended for everyone six months of age and above, there are certain groups who should consult their physician before getting one – especially those who may be allergic to eggs. For more information on flu shot recommendations visit the CDC’s website.
Q: Can pregnant women get a flu shot? Will it affect their unborn child?
A: Pregnant women can absolutely get a flu shot and in fact SHOULD get a flu shot. The flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not pregnant due to their weakened immune system. A pregnant woman sick with the flu also has a greater chance that her unborn baby will suffer serious problems. The shot will not affect affect their unborn child – at least not in a negative way. If a woman is vaccinated during pregnancy, the baby is also born with some flu antibodies that will help protect them for up to 6 months after they are born. This is important because babies younger than 6 months can’t be vaccinated.
Q: I’ve gotten a flu shot before and still ended up with flu-like symptoms later in the season. Why?
A: There are several reasons why someone might still get flu-like symptoms. 1) It takes the body two weeks to gain protection after getting vaccinated, so a person exposed during that two-week period could still get the flu. 2) People may become ill with what they think is the flu because of the symptoms but is actually being caused by a non-flu virus, such as the common cold. 3) A person may be exposed to an influenza virus that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine. Many different strains circulate each year, and the flu shot protects against the 3-4 viruses that research suggests will be the most common.
Q: If I haven’t gotten a shot by the time winter starts, is it even worth me getting one?
A: Yes. As long as flu viruses are spreading, it’s not too late. Flu season typically peaks between December and February, but activity can sometimes occur as late as May. The sooner you get a shot, the quicker your body can build up an immunity.
