Guthrie County Hospital is advising any local residents who have not received a flu vaccination to stop by one of its clinics to get a flu shot as soon as possible.

GCH Clinics Director Tina Nourse says there have been 10 confirmed cases of flu in the hospital’s family medicine clinics over the past two weeks.  State-wide there have been 387 cases of confirmed influenza so far this season, with 70 of those cases being just last week according to the State Hygienic Laboratory.

Nourse says the state saw 50 flu-related hospitalizations last week, one of which resulted in a pediatric death.

GCH says it still has plenty of influenza vaccines available at each of its clinic locations within Guthrie County.  Nourse says the flu vaccine is “60-80% effective,” though she does acknowledge “some people who have been vaccinated have contracted the flu or have had flu symptoms.”

Any local residents with questions about flu vaccinations or if you’d like to schedule an appointment to receive a flu shot, contact GCH’s main line at 641-332-2201.