The Department of Human Services announced Oct. 16 that it has shipped out 150,000 doses of its influenza vaccine for the 2002-2003 flu season to more than 500 health care providers in the Greater Bangor area and throughout the state.

Through the Maine Immunization Program, the influenza vaccine is given free of charge to providers in order to make the vaccine available to the public at little or no charge.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a disease of the lungs, which may lead to pneumonia. Each year about 114,000 people in the United States are hospitalized because of the flu and approximately 20,000 die. Most of the fatalities are people over 65 years of age.

Kevin W. Concannon, Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, encourages all Mainers who have a chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma, or anyone over age 50, to get flu shots as early as possible.

“The flu is far more dangerous than a common cold,” said the commissioner. “Those folks at risk should make every effort to get this simple and safe vaccination against the flu because it will protect them throughout the winter. We make this vaccine available to health care providers for free so that they, in turn, can provide it to low income Maine people for no more than $5.”

Dora Anne Mills, director of the Bureau of Health and the state’s chief health officer, further recommended that women in the second or third trimester of a pregnancy also receive a vaccination for the flu. She said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now encourages that healthy toddlers age 6 months to 2 years be vaccinated because they are at increased risk for hospitalization.

“Now is an excellent time to get vaccinated,” Dr. Mills said, “because the vaccine is in and it’s just before the flu season starts.”

While the best time to get a flu shot is October or November, state health officials have observed that the flu season occasionally lasts beyond March.

DHS is creating a list of clinics to assist people in finding out where to obtain a flu shot in their area. For information, call your health care provider, or the Maine Immunization Program at 287-3746 or (800) 867-4775. Information also is available on the Internet at http://www.immunizeme.org/flu.html.