Seasonal Flu Vaccines To Protect Against H1N1

It's the time of year for sniffles, sneezes, germs — and Oak Park public health officials are prepared to protect residents with a new batch of vaccines.

Oak Park's Department of Public Health will be receiving and administering vaccines, which includes protection against H1N1, to residents later this month to help ward off this year's influenza. 

According to the Center for Disease Control, H1N1 sent about 160,000 people between the ages of 18-64 to a hospital in the U.S.

Locally, only a handful of Oak Park residents were hospitalized because of H1N1 last year, local health officials said. 

"Last year was sort of an anomaly because of the pandemic" said health director Margaret Provost-Fyfe. 

In 2009, the health department administered 700 doses of the usual season flu vaccine, officials said. 

When H1N1 spread, additional vaccines were provided by the federal government at no cost. The department doled out about 9,000 doses  of the H1N1 vaccine. 

This year, the traditional seasonal flu vaccine includes protection against H1N1. Local health officials estimate another 700 doses will be issued this year.

They will cost $25 for adults and $10 for children.

Provost-Fyfe encourages anyone older than six months to receive the vaccine and especially those with already compromised immune systems.

Officials said anyone seeking a flu shot must call the flu hotline and leave their name, phone number and the number of people needing the vaccine.

The hotline number is 708- 358-5601.

A staff person will call back to schedule an appointment.

The health department does not reveal where the clinics take place because they don't want people showing up without an appointment.