Bureau County Health Department now offering flu shots by appointment

The Bureau County Health Department is offering flu shots by appointment only.

The health department, located at 526 Bureau Valley Pkwy. in Princeton, is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays. Call 815-872-5091 to schedule your appointment for a flu shot.

Similar to COVID-19, the flu is a contagious respiratory illness, but caused by a different virus. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and seasonal flu (most often just called “flu”) is caused by infection with one of many influenza viruses that spread annually among people.

While it’s not possible to say with certainty what will happen in the fall and winter, the CDC believes it’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading at that time. Relaxed COVID-19 mitigation measures (such as stay-at-home orders, or mask mandates) may result in an increase in flu activity during the upcoming 2021–2022 flu season.

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the four flu viruses that research indicates are most likely to spread and cause illness among people during the upcoming flu season. Flu viruses constantly change and, based on the available data on how flu viruses are currently changing, CDC flu experts anticipate that the flu viruses that circulate this season may have small changes in comparison to each of the four major virus components used in the vaccine.

Despite these changes, the flu vaccine is still expected to provide good protection for the majority of flu viruses that are likely to circulate in the United States during the upcoming flu season.

Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, with few exceptions.

Bureau County Health Department: 526 Bureau Valley Pkwy., Princeton, IL, 61356 815-872-5091, www.bchealthdepartment.org.