Clinics in Sauk Valley keep cost of flu shots steady

Marilyn Greenwood receives a flu vaccination from Barb Young R.N. of Mercy Nursing/ESSI at The Meadows retirement home in Franklin Grove. The Lee County Health Department raised its price this year of a inoculation from $25 to $30 for adults and $12 for children. (Alex T. Paschal/SVN)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

When you work with the public, as Marilyn Greenwood at the Lee County Tourism Office does, you exchange a lot of handshakes - and a lot of germs. With so much public contact, staying healthy is important for her personally, as well as the people she deals with on a daily basis. To stay ahead of the game, Greenwood, 67, of Amboy rolled up her sleeve for her annual flu shot Tuesday. "It's important for everyone to get the shot, especially those who are at a higher risk of getting the flu," Greenwood said. Her shot was administered by Sterling-based Mercy Nursing/Easy Staff Services Inc., at The Meadows of Franklin Grove retirement home, where her mother lives. The $25 price tag also is attractive. "It's just so convenient to get vaccinated here," she said. With an increase in production of the influenza vaccine, those seeking a dose of prevention will find local health departments, pharmacies, and health care agencies are keeping their flu shot prices relatively the same as last year. Same ballpark The Ogle and Whiteside County health departments have kept their prices the same as last year - $25 and $30, respectively. The Lee County Health Department raised its price this year from $25 to $30 for adults and from $10 to $12 for children. Administrator Cathy Ferguson said the increase was attributed to the amount of the vaccine the clinic had, as well as the time and staffing required to run the clinic. "We do an analysis every year of what the actual cost of the vaccine will be," Ferguson said. "We also consult with all the county health departments in the region and, so far, we've all been in the same ballpark." Sickness myth The Lee County Health Department held a large-scale flu clinic Saturday at Sauk Valley Community College, where about 900 people were vaccinated, Ferguson said. Ferguson said a common misconception among many of the people who came out is that flu shots will make the recipient sick. The vaccine contains a dead virus, and Ferguson said if someone develops flu-like symptoms following the flu shot, it is likely that the person already was exposed to a live virus before receiving the shot. "The flu shot is not 100 percent [effective], but it offers very good protection," Ferguson said. The level of protection is such that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages parents to vaccinate their children, and recommends that all children age 6 months to 18 receive the shot. This year, the Lee County Health Department is holding five additional flu shot clinics - two for adults and three for children ages 6 months to 18. Pricing factors According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, influenza vaccine manufacturers report they expect to produce a record supply of between 143 million and 146 million doses. With the increase in production, the Ogle County Health Department has been able to provide the shot to more people in the county, said administrator Doreen O'Brien. "It's been much better the last 2 years," O'Brien said. "When we order it, it comes. There hasn't been a shortage." When determining how much to charge for the vaccine, the department must look at what pharmaceutical companies charge, as well as gas prices and staff costs, O'Brien said. The cost of the vaccination is covered by Medicare Part B and by most private insurers. "People should check with their [insurance] providers first, but a lot of vaccinations are covered by insurance plans as well as Medicare Part B," said Robert Elfinger, spokesman for Walgreen's, which has locations in Dixon, Rock Falls, and Sterling. Because they negotiate a price directly with vaccine manufacturers, major chains such as Walgreen can sometimes offer the vaccine for less than single locations that buy less vaccine, Elfinger said. The price of the flu shot at Walgreen is $24.99, Elfinger said, the same as last year. About 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year because of flu, and 36,000 die, according to the health department. Though vaccinations start in October, flu season lasts through March and typically peaks in January or February. Local flu clinics The Lee County Health Department is offering additional flu shot clinics at the department, 309 S. Galena Ave., Suite 100, Dixon. The price of the vaccine is $30 for adults and $12 for children. Medicaid cards will be accepted. To learn more, call the Health Department, 815-284-3371. The clinic times for adults are: - 1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 3. - 9-11 a.m. Nov. 21. The Health Department also will have three children's clinics from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Nov. 24, Dec. 5, and Dec. 11. Mercy Nursing Services also is offering flu shots for $25 at: - 9-11:30 a.m. Oct. 23 at the Paw Paw Community Center, 362 Chicago Road, Paw Paw. - 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Amboy Community Building, 280 W. Wasson Road, Amboy. For more information, call Mercy Nursing Services at 815-625-7764.