By Jerry Bellune
JerryBellune@yahoo.com 
Public health officials are concerned by the approaching flu season.
They worry that it may overwhelm doctors and hospitals swamped by covid-19 patients.
This has increased efforts to convince people to be vaccinated against influenza.
Local pharmacists say they ready to help.
Michael Gleaton at Medicine Mart in Lexington reported he has 2 levels of vaccine he is already dispensing including a stronger dosage for older adults.
Lynn Connelly at Medicine Mart in West Columbia reported his vaccine has arrived and plans to start giving shots in September.
Roberta Vining at Riley's Drugs in Lexington said they are expecting more shipments and will start giving shots after Labor Day.
Covid-19 and the flu virus are likely to spread in the fall and winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
As many as 45 million of us get the flu annually.
This lead to more than 34,000 deaths last year, nearly all of them older adults.
Patients can avoid the worst or at least limit its severity by taking a flu shot.
Research shows the vaccine reduces the risk of illness by 40% to 60%.
Less than 50% of us get the shot annually. 62% of kids get one, the CDC says.
The CDC said you can get the flu and be infected with covid-19 at the same time.
This could send more patients to doctors’ offices and hospitals already struggling to treat covid-19 cases, health officials say.
To reduce the pressure, drug companies are making about 200 million flu shots this year.
That's 13% more than last year, a record, the CDC said.
Pharmacies may give flu shots at curbside, too.
Drugmaker AstraZeneca is helping doctors set up mobile flu clinics.
It plans 8 million doses of nasal spray flu vaccine, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Health officials are optimistic that more people will get vaccine because covid-19 has increased awareness of preventing illness.
Fear of contracting the virus has kept people away from doctors’ offices.
Childhood immunization in the US fell during the pandemic.
Health officials worry that the unemployed may not get vaccinated after losing their jobs and health insurance.