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Robin Rhodes, St. Joseph-Buchanan County Health Department assistant health director, stands in front of a trailer of supplies for today’s flu clinic.

It’s that time of year again.

Time to prepare for flu season, that is. The flu already has hit the East Coast and is expected to be here by the end of the month, according to Connie Bonebrake, the nursing coordinator at the St. Joseph-Buchanan County Health Department.

“From everything we’ve heard so far, it’s making people very sick,” she said.

The Health Department will host a vaccination clinic beginning at 9 a.m. today at the Army National Guard, 301 N. Woodbine Road in St. Joseph, that will last until 1 p.m. or until the approximately 700 doses are gone. If any are left over at 1 p.m., they will be offered at the Health Department’s clinic. Any adult in Buchanan County is eligible to receive a shot for free.

This year’s vaccine protects against three strains of the flu that are all new: two Brisbane strains that typically cause short but acute illness and one Florida strain that typically causes less severe symptoms but lasts longer. The Health Department is targeting people age 65 and older, as well as people under 65 with conditions that make them more vulnerable, such as diabetes and cancer.

The portion of the population recommended to receive the vaccine, however, is much larger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those who should be vaccinated are children between the ages of 6 months and 19 years, pregnant women, people age 50 and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from the flu. This is the first year the CDC has recommended children receive the shot, and the form recommended for them is one free of the preservative thimerosal.

“Because the flu was especially severe last year, we are encouraging everyone to get the shot this year,” said Kevin Kirby, executive director of the American Red Cross’ Midland Empire Chapter.

Part of the reason last year’s flu season was severe may be due to the fact that last year’s vaccine wasn’t as effective as usual, added Ms. Bonebrake.

“It was one of those odd years when a wild virus came into the picture, and the vaccine didn’t match it very well,” she said. “But the vaccine usually matches perfectly and is very successful.”

People also can take other measures to avoid getting the flu, she added, including washing their hands regularly and not touching their noses or mouths; using antiseptic wipes on items at work, such as phones and copy machines, which are shared with others; and keeping hand sanitizer handy. If they do get sick, however, it’s important that they stay home rather than try to tough it out at work and expose others in the process.

“Every little extra bit of protective care you take may be the thing that keeps you or someone else from getting sick,” she said.

Erin Wisdom can be reached at ewisdom@npgco.com.