With the change of the calendar to October it's time to prepare for the flu season.

Floyd Valley Community Health Service will again be providing flu vaccine throughout Plymouth County. This year's vaccine covers three strains of influenza, A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1), A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2) and B/Florida/4/2006.

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The influenza vaccine can be given to anyone 6 months of age and older but is recommended for the following people:

*People at high risk for complications from influenza:

All children 6 months through 18 years of age

Pregnant women

People 50 years of age and older

People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities

*People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from the flu, including:

Household contacts with persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)

Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age

*Healthcare workers

There are also people who should not be vaccinated. They include:

*People with a severe allergy to chicken eggs

*People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.

*People who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously

*Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children less than 6 months of age

*People who are moderately or severely ill should wait until they recover before getting immunized.

Public immunization clinics will be held on the following dates and locations:

*Friday, Oct. 17, 1 to 3 p.m. at Le Mars Senior Center.

*Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2 to 7 p.m. at Well Aware Community Health Fair, Le Mars.

*Monday, Oct. 27, 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Remsen Beck Park Shelter House.

*Wednesday, Oct. 29, 10 to 11 a.m. at Merrill Senior Center.

*Thursday, Oct. 30, 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Floyd Valley Hospital's Conference Center

*Wednesday, Nov. 5, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Hinton Community Center.

*Thursday, Nov. 6, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Akron Senior Center.

*Friday, Nov. 7, 10 to 11 a.m. at Kingsley Community Center.

*Wednesday, Nov. 12, 4 to 6 p.m. at Floyd Valley Hospital's Conference Center

Cost for the influenza vaccine is $22.

Those individuals eligible for Medicare, are asked to bring their Medicare card (Part B) or Medicare Advantage card with them to the clinic.

For further information, contact Deb Steffen, Community Health Manager at Floyd Valley Hospital at 712-546-3335.