'It's safe. It's effective.' It's time to get flu shots Annual
injection protects against 3 strains Tuesday, September 18, 2012
While it may not feel like fall in Clark County, the season will
officially be upon us Saturday. And with the colorful leaves and
cooler temperatures comes the emergence of the seasonal flu -- a
reality that has health officials urging everyone older than 6
months to get their flu shots early. "We want people to get the
vaccine as soon as it's available, which means now," said Dr.
Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer. "This should provide
protection if the flu season comes early." The flu can flare up
anytime, but the season typically runs from October through May.
The last couple of years, flu season in Clark County and across
the country has emerged later -- as late as March. But there is
no way for health officials to predict when the disease will
start to spread this year, Melnick said. Each year, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health
Organization