While the state is facing a moderate to wide-spread outbreak of influenza, most of North Central Florida is only seeing mild activity. Dr. Kathleen Ryan with the University of Florida says vaccination rates for influenza across the country are traditionally low but that's not the case here, as schools offer free nasal flu-mist for children. Dr. Ryan says, "In alachua county just within the school age population we have upwards of 50 percent or so of the children vaccinated."

 

Dr. Ryan says children are the super-spreaders of flu. "There are computer modeling studies that show, that if you can immunize 70 percent of the school children you can protect an entire community from the flu, something we like to call community immunity," she adds.

 

Paul Myers, with the Alachua County Health Department says, before you take a trip to the pharmacy and stock up on cold and flu meds because you're showing signs, consider getting a flu shot. He adds, it's never too late. "This is a very well vaccinated county. And particularly in our school aged children when we conduct the flu mist program,  we've had a great response to that. And that's what we attribute the good conditions we're experiencing," Myers says.  

 

As a form of prevention the Alachua County Health Department provides flu shots, and in order to be safe rather than sorry. I decided to get mine today.

 

And like the LMFAO song, Dr. Ryan suggests everyone get one. Besides, according to Corral the shot wasn't too bad.

 

With insurance the flu shot is free in places such as CVS, Walgreens and the Alachua County Health Department. Those without an insurance plan can get a shot for $25 at the health department.