There is a lot of information in the media about regular seasonal influenza.

Getting a flu vaccination is the best way to protect against getting the seasonal flu.

The regular seasonal flu vaccine contains three vaccine viruses and one of these strains provides protection against the H1N1 virus. The 2014-2015 trivalent or quadrivalent influenza vaccine is made from the following three or four viruses:

  • an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
  • an A(H3N2) virus antigenically like the cell-propagated prototype virus A/Victoria/361/2011;
  • a B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus.
  • (Quadrivalent) – a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus

Who should get vaccinated?

Annual vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months and over, even for those who received the vaccine for the previous season.

When should you get vaccinated?

Seasonal flu vaccine is currently available, and the CDC recommends that people should be vaccinated as soon possible. Seasonal flu vaccine will continue to be available throughout the influenza season into December, January and beyond.

Vaccine facts

The seasonal flu vaccine contains three or four influenza viruses in each dose. The viruses in the vaccine generally change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. However, this year’s seasonal flu vaccine contains all of the same strains as last year.

It takes about two weeks after receiving the vaccine for your body to build antibodies to provide protection against the seasonal flu virus.

Flu vaccine is offered in two types of vaccine:

  • The “Flu Shot” containes flu virus that has been killed and is administered with a needle, usually in the arm. The shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months.
  • The nasal-spray flu vaccine (FluMist®) contains live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu and is administered as a nasal spray. FluMist is approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age.

How can I get the vaccine?

The Gallatin City-County Health Department provides walk-in flu clinics beginning on September 15. The schedule is:

**Our regularly scheduled walk in flu clinics this Monday and Tuesday Sept 29th and 30th have been canceled, the walk in clinics will resume again the following Monday Oct 6th and Tuesday Oct 7th?  We apologize for any inconvenience.

  • Every Monday 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
  • Every Tuesday 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., excluding holidays

How do I get additional information?

Please refer to the Gallatin City-County Health Department Website at www.healthgal.classicinkdev.biz for seasonal flu information, or call the Gallatin City-County Health Department at 406 582-3100.

For more information on Immunizations in Gallatin County, go here.