Officials Encourage Everyone To Get Flu Shots

MARYLAND (WJZ) -- When there are holiday gifts to buy and you're busy at work, the last thing you need is the flu.

All three strains have already been confirmed in Maryland, and Suzanne Collins reports on a health department campaign to get people immunized.

People were getting free flu shots at the Baltimore County Health Department Wednesday. A Beth Tfiloh student came in for one.

"Last week in school everyone had a cold from one person who was sick," said Ayelet Hamberger, student.

A statewide campaign is now underway to get people inoculated.

There are spots on TV, radio and billboard advertising for flu shots. The CDC recommends everyone older than 6 months should get a flu vaccine. Adults can bring the virus home from work and children can bring it home from school.

"Research has shown, for example, communities that did a particularly good job of immunizing children, actually have a much better response rate in the population as a whole against influenza," said John Colmers, Maryland Health Secretary.

Three strains have been found already in Maryland: Type A, Type B and H1N1. The shot covers all three. Supply is no problem.

The health department wants everyone to know you can't get the flu from the shot and you cannot go to work or school if you have the flu because the risk is too high.

Surrounding states have had more cases than Maryland, but health officials say they expect more cases in our state soon.