By Keith Phucas
For the Independent

Montgomery County will offer flu vaccines at 14 “seasonal” flu clinics at drive-thru and walk-in locations in October and November. These specific vaccines are not for the much-publicized Novel H1N1 flu virus, according to the county health department.

The vaccines, which are free to county residents, are being offered to people 50 years and older and anyone who is chronically ill.

The following drive-thru clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for flu shots only:

Oct. 3 at Upper Perkiomen High School; Oct. 8 at Congregation Beth or Oct. 15 at Fairview Village Church of Nazarene; Oct. 17 at Abington Senior High School; Oct. 20 at Central Schwenkfelder Church; and Oct. 30 at Upper Salford Fire Station.

All residents will be vaccinated in cars only; no walk-up shots will be administered. Residents must bring a driver’s license and Medicare card, if Medicare eligible.

The following eight walk-in community flu clinics will be open:

Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Franconia Mennonite Church in Telford; Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Plymouth Meeting Mall’s Church on the Mall; Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Norristown Public Library; Nov. 9 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s UCC Church in Trappe; Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. until noon at The Fellowship House of Conshohocken; Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. at Pottstown Health Center; Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. at Montgomery County Human Services Center in Norristown; and on Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. at the Eastern Court House Annex in Willow Grove.

Residents are advised to pre-register online at the county health department Web site, http://health.montcopa.org. Pre-registration will be available until Sept. 30.

Residents will also be able to receive the pneumonia vaccine and the TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) vaccine at the community walk-in sites.

Authorities urge residents to receive a seasonal flu shot because influenza is an exceedingly common virus, and it becomes more prevalent during the winter months. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to one quarter of Americans suffer from the flu during its prime season, typically between November and March.

Check with your physician, if you are allergic to eggs (which are used in the production of flu vaccine), or if you’ve have had a previous serious reaction to a flu vaccine.

Possible side effects from injected vaccines include soreness at the site of injection, fever and aches; these usually occur soon after the shot and last one or two days.

Life-threatening allergic reactions are rare but may include high fever, behavior changes, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, hives, paleness, weakness, fast heartbeat or dizziness. If any occur, it is typically within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot.