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A record number of students and staff at Luverne Public Schools will receive the influenza vaccine to combat the upcoming 2015-16 flu season.
Sanford Clinic Luverne personnel gave more than 600 shots in the makeshift clinic Friday in the Luverne Elementary gymnasium.
Another clinic for immunizations by nasal mist is planned for late November and early December for another 200 individuals.
“It’s going to be a record year,” said school nurse Phil Paquette, who organized the clinic for the approximately 800 who will receive immunizations this year.
He credits earlier notification to parents about the upcoming clinic for the increased numbers as well as being able to offer the shots free through a Luverne Area Community Foundation grant.
Consent forms were mailed as well as made available online, he said.
The Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated on its website that it is not possible to predict what this year’s flu season will be like.
“While the flu spreads every year, the timing, severity and length of the season varies from one year to the next,” the website indicated.
The flu vaccine can help keep those who are immunized from getting the flu, make the flu less severe if it is caught and keep those immunized from spreading the virus from person to person.
Because of the demand for the flu vaccine, Friday’s clinic wasn’t able to administer the nasal mist.
“Manufacturers are behind on production,” Paquette said.
According to the CDC, the U.S. flu season occurs in winter but flu outbreaks can happen as early as October and can last as late as May. In 2014-15, flu cases increased through late November and December before peaking in late December.
Last year’s flu season was characterized as “moderately severe” by the CDC.
The flu is caused by influenza viruses and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing and close contact.