Health department warns of early influenza cases

MASON CITY — Influenza is already on the move. Although it seems early in the year, according to the State Hygienic Laboratory there have already been seven confirmed cases of influenza A in Iowa.

“The best way to protect yourself from the flu, is it to get the flu vaccine,” stated Jeni Stiles, Infectious Disease Nurse, Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. “With the holidays just around the corner, getting your flu vaccine now is very important as it can take up to two weeks for the flu vaccine to protect you.”

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend annual influenza vaccinations for everyone 6 months of age and older. It’s especially important to be vaccinated if you have regular contact with people more vulnerable to the complications of flu, including babies, children with asthma, and the elderly. They also recommend pregnant women be vaccinated to protect themselves, and to pass on some immunity to their baby.

The flu is a serious respiratory illness caused by viruses. The flu comes on suddenly and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days. Influenza may cause severe illness or even death in people such as the very young or very old, or those who have underlying health conditions.

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health’s walk-in immunization clinic is open Monday–Friday from 10AM-Noon and 12:30-4PM. They will be hosting a Saturday flu clinic on November 21^st from 9AM-Noon at the Health Department (Mohawk Square, 22 N Georgia Ave, Mason City).

They offer the following types of flu vaccine:

Traditional flu shot (3 strains) $23
Traditional flu shot (4 strains) $27
High-dose flu shot (ages 65 and older) $41
FluMist (ages 2 – 49; 4-strain) $27
Pneumonia Vaccine $104
PCV 13 $196

The Health Department offers various payment options.

Vaccine For Children Program (VFC). Vaccine is free of charge if your child meets the following requirements: child has no health insurance, child is American Indian or Alaskan Native, child is enrolled in Medcaid or child is under-insured.
Individuals can purchase the vaccine at full cost.
We also accept most major health insurances. With insurance, no money is collected at the time of the vaccination; services are billed directly to insurance. Any remaining balance is billed to the client after insurance has paid for its portion of the service. The Health Department accepts the following insurances: