Audrey Arian, a resident in Banyan Springs, came down with the flu a few years back and was stuck in bed for weeks.

To avoid this from happening again, Arian got her flu shot during a two-week program sponsored by the Coalition Of Boynton West Residential Associations that ended Oct. 14.

The two-week program, in which 47 communities and 6,434 residents participated, was for just regular seasonal flu shots.

Arian said she also plans to get the H1N1 shot when COBWRA gets them in and starts that program.

“I know there are reports that people born before 1950 are sometimes immune to H1N1 but I don’t want to be that person who is not,” she said.

The seasonal flu shot program that COBWRA had from Sept. 30 through Oct. 14 was administered by Maxim Healthcare Services, where residents could use Medicare, and HMO, another insurance carrier or self pay for $30.

Joan Brunswick, COBWRA flu shot chairwoman, said in addition to the seasonal program, the coalition sent out a survey to see what communities would be interested in the H1N1 program.

“We have 45 communities that said they would participate,” Brunswick said. “The time for the program is undetermined because we don’t know when the vaccines will arrive. But when they do, we will be ready to go.”

Brunswick said residents like the flu programs COBWRA has because they are afraid and want the vaccine.

Ken Lassiter, COBWRA president, said there have been delays with the H1N1 vaccine but that when they get them the coalition can have the program up and running in a few weeks.

“We can’t do it overnight,” he said.

Even local West Boynton doctors are stepping up to promote the use the H1N1 flu shot and how safe it actually is.

Dr. Scott 
Friedberg took his H1N1 vaccine and gave his staff the vaccine Oct. 21 at his office at 6611 W. Boynton Beach Blvd.

He said there are five groups recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1
influenza vaccine by the Center for Disease Control.

“The way I approach it, is that it is the same as the regular season flu vaccine, just altered to fight this particular strain,” he said. “If you fit into one of the five categories, there is no reason you shouldn’t get the vaccine.”

The five high-risk groups include pregnant women, employees watching children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and medical personnel, persons age 25 through 64 years who have health conditions with a higher risk of medical complications from the flu and all people from 10 years through 24 years of age.

For information from Friedberg, call the 
office at 561-369-2428.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.