Flu vaccine is available

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) officials are encouraging everyone 6 months and older to receive a flu shot as soon as the vaccine is available in their communities.

A record 132 million doses of vaccine are expected to be available in the United States this flu season.

"This viral infection can lead to a serious, sometimes deadly illness," said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS Commissioner. An annual flu shot is one of the best ways to protect people from flu and its complications and to reduce the spread of the virus."

Lakey encouraged those at increased risk of severe flu complications to get their flu shot as early as possible. These groups include children ages 6 months through 4 years, people with chronic medical conditions, residents of long-term care facilities and pregnant women.

Early immunizations also are encouraged for those 50 and older, for people who live with or care for those at increased risk of flu complications and for those who come in close contact with children younger than 6 months.

The shot takes about two weeks to become effective.

Flu symptoms include a sudden, often high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.

The viruses addressed by the 2007-2008 flu vaccine are: A/Solomon Islands (H1N1), A/Wisconsin

(H3N2), B/Malaysia and similar strains.

Flu shots do not contain live viruses and cannot cause the flu.

About 36,000 deaths are recorded in the United States each year from flu complications.