The Utah County Health Department will be giving flu immunizations next to Deseret Book in the University Mall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26.
Anyone over the age of 6 months can receive a flu shot, but there are groups of the population which are more at risk to contract a flu and are particularly encouraged to be immunized. These groups include all senior citizens; all those with medical conditions and chronic conditions such as heart disease, anemia, lung disease, kidney disease, metabolic disease and asthma; and anyone who has been hospitalized within the past year.The Utah County Health Department gives an average of 13,000 flu immunizations a year.
Immunization coordinator Diane Chipman said flu shots need to be repeated every flu season, "because they change the strains in the vaccine. The flu outsmarts us every year and changes," she said. Also, children under the age of 9 often need two doses of the flu vaccine in a season - the first dose and then a dose one month later. This is because children may not build up a good antibody to the flu, she said.
There is a $7 fee per immunization. The Health Department will also be offering a pneumonia vaccine, which is $14.