Elsie Smith, 2, gets a flu shot while mother Bridget Smith looks on. (Democrat Photo/Mark Randall)

Edna Goff has been getting a flu shot every year for the past five years.

And since she began taking the precaution the 80 year-old hasn't gotten sick.

"When I got older I thought I needed something," Goff said. "I haven't had the flu in three or four years………only a cold."

Goff was one of many Trumann residents who dropped by the Poinsett County Health Unit last Friday to get a flu shot.

Poinsett County Local Health Unit administrator Jan Mitchusson said they give about 400 to 500 flu shot in Trumann each year.

"We had one last week in Harrisburg and we gave 688," Mitchusson said. "And we had one in Marked Tree and we gave 519. There was already a line forming outside the clinic by 7:30 a.m. waiting to get a shot when we arrived. And by 9 a.m. the clinic had already seen about 75 to 100 people."

Mitchusson said every resident over the age of six months should get a flu shot, especially the elderly and those with chronic diseases of weakened immune systems.

Each year more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized by the flu with 36,000 people dying from the virus.

Flu symptoms include high fever, headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, muscle ache, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, and stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

"The virus is spread through coughing or sneezing or by touching a hard surface with the virus on it then touching your nose or mouth." Said Mitchusson.

Flu shots are designed to protect against strains of the flu virus expected to show up this winter and are generally given starting in September through mid-November, before the start of the flu season.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, flu shots are 70 to 90 percent effective in warding off the circulating strains of flu or illness in healthy people under age 65.

The vaccine doesn't offer as much protection for adults over 65 as it would for someone who is younger because older adults produce fewer antibodies. However, the vaccine does reduce the chance of hospitalization by 70 percent and deaths by 85 percent.

For adults living in nursing homes or with chronic diseases a flu shot is 30 to 70 percent effective in preventing hospitalization for flu or pneumonia.

Mitchusson said people who get a flu shot can still get the flu, but in most cases the illness will be less severe.

"In most cases it keeps you from getting the flu," Mitchusson said. "Sometimes there are strains of flu that are not covered by the vaccine, which happened last year. But even if you had a flu shot, those cases are much milder than if you don't have a flu shot."

It's also important to get a flu shot every year because the flu virus changes from year to year and last year's flu vaccine wasn't designed to fight the strains during this flu season.

Mitchusson said those who get the shots may have a slight reaction to the shot such as muscle ache or fever, but the shots won't cause you to get the flu.

"It's not made from a live virus," Mitchusson said.

The vaccine takes one to two weeks to take effect.

"Tips to stay flu free this year include avoiding contact with people who are sick, staying home when you are sick, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, frequent hand washing and avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth." concluded Mitchusson.