The Scotland County Board of Health voted this week to approve prices for the fall round of influenza vaccinations.

The board will contract with the company VaxCare to provide flu shots at the health department. Prices will vary depending on the type of vaccine used; five vaccines will be available depending upon individuals’ age and risk factors.

“In the nasal types they have live, attenuated virus, so it’s actually virus that’s treated so it’s not very infectious, so you don’t give that to very compromised people,” said health board Vice Chair Dr. Kelvin Raybon.

The pediatric vaccine for children aged six to 35 months will be $23, as will the intramuscular vaccine for those aged three and up. Nasal inoculation for those aged two to 49 and intradermal shots for ages 18-64 are $28. The vaccine used for those aged 65 and up will be $38. For each vaccination, an $8 administration fee will be directed to the health department. VaxCare will bill Medicare directly for the cost of the vaccine for those with that coverage.

The optimal time period for receiving flu shots is quickly approaching, and the department will begin offering shots in the coming weeks. Raybon noted that Scotland Memorial Hospital has yet to give flu vaccines this year, but health care workers are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.

“It’s really being recommended that anybody in the health care field get vaccinated or have a medical exemption, and it’s really hard to get medically exempt; the health care system has to go through a committee and very few people qualify for an exemption,” said Jane Murray, chair of the board of health. “If you don’t get it by the end of December, you can’t work.” In other business, the board approved a change in budget allowing an additional $1,525 in unexpected state funds to be spent on diabetes capacity building.

“Sometimes the Centers for Disease Control or some grantor will have additional funding and they’ll allocate it to the state and they’ll allocate it across 100 counties,” said Health Director Wayne Raynor.

The department’s diabetes capacity building program, essentially educating the public about diabetes, will include building inter-agency networks and referrals.

“It is informing the community and letting the community know that we have diabetes education here and trying to get people here to participate in diabetes education,” said Healthy Carolinians Coordinator Kathie Cox.

Later this month, Cox, Raynor, and Scotland County EMS Director will go on WLNC radio at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27, to talk about preparedness for and prevention of public health threats and emergency situations.