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KANSAS CITY, MB.-Already, doctors in the metro say Jackson and Johnson counties have seen more than 60 flu cases combined.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the activity in Missouri is sporadic for the week ending on October 6.
Flu season usually starts next month, and doctors are those affected by it.
Dr. Todd Fristo with St. Luke 's Medical Group said, "You want to get it in on your system.
According to the CDC, it's more than 30,000 people in the hospital last year.
"I think this year, from what I read, looks like it might be a little more effective than last year," Fristo said. "What happened last year was one of the common A strains changed after the A strain was produced, so it was not effective."
Fristo said there is a lot of misconceptions about the flu shot.
"It's not a virus, it's not technically giving you influenza," Fristo said.
Julie Moise works to educate others about these common misconceptions. Last year, the CDC says more than 170 children lost their lives because of flu-related illnesses.
"It's not the circle of life," Moise said. "You're not supposed to bury your child."
In 2003, Moise's 6-and-a-half-month-old Ian died from flu complications. She and her family started the Ian's Rainbow Flu Foundation to educate people and surround families to get vaccinated.
"We got our older boys vaccinated, but my husband and I did not worry about getting vaccinated ourselves," Moise said. "We came down with the same time Ian did, because he was so young, it hit him a lot harder. Ian. "
The money raised by Ian Rainbow Flu Foundation goes to free flu clinics.
"This weekend alone between our walk-in and our first clinic, we vaccinated over 250 people," Moise said.
That brings comfort to Moise and her family.
"Without all of them, we would probably just be at home." But with the community and the environment, "it makes us feel like we're making a difference," Moise said.
The CDC recommends 6 months and older get vaccinated. Fristo says the only people who should not have their flu shots.
According to the CDC, there is a shortage of flu vaccines. But some places are running into other problems.
Watkins Health Services at KU did not receive its full order of flu vaccines because of slow release from the FDA. KU spokesperson said the school had to cancel flu shot clinics because of the delay.
The school is slowly getting the rest of its shipment and rescheduling those clinics. The Lawrence -Douglas Health Department said it is not aware of any other delays.
St. Luke's Medical Group said they have enough flu shots, but they're ordering more just in case.
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