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By Seth Quillen
LEWISTON -- The coughing, sniffling, sneezing, so you can rest injection may save you some grief this year. Winter time is upon us and it's time to start thinking of your defense against the elements. Lewiston Librarian Vella Durrant believes a flu shot is your first defense, that's why the library will be sponsoring a flu shot clinic Wednesday. Terri Jones, a nurse at the USU Student Health Center, discounts the urban legend. "There's nothing in the serum that would make you sick," Jones said. "If you get cold-like symptoms it's just a coincidence." Actually, "your symptoms are much less severe and don't last as long," said Jones. "And the flu is pretty contagious so I would strongly suggest you get one. "The Center for Disease Control calculates which strains are going to be most prevalent that year," said Jones. "It's kind of a guessing game, sometimes some influenza strains come through that are not included." It takes about two weeks for the shot to take effect or start giving protection or immunity. "It's a short acting immunity so you need to get a shot every year," said Jones. The Bear River Health department will be at the library Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. "We have done it here for about three or four years," Durrant said. "And we did about 154 shots last year." High risk people who are consistently around a lot of people like school teachers, students and librarians are especially encouraged to get the shot. Pneumonia shots will also be offered, though this is not as strongly encouraged as the flu shot. "Older people who have a lot of respiratory problems should get the pneumonia shot," said Durrant. "And we have a lot of older people who came to this because they don't like going all the way into Logan. "The clinic is not exclusive Lewiston residents, Richmond, Cove and High Creek are all welcome and any other passerby," said Durrant. The price of the flu shot is $12 and pneumonia $30. For seniors over 65, retired and on Social Security, bring your medicare card the and shots will be free.
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