Airports are ready for passengers seeking flu shots

— -- You've been reminded of these figures a lot already and in the next few weeks and months you'll hear them a lot more. But if you spend time on the road shaking hands, opening doors, or sitting on an airplane or in an airport terminal, it will be worth your while to take a few seconds for a quick review: According to experts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, each year 5% to 20% of the U.S. population will get the flu. More than 200,000 people will end up hospitalized from flu complications. And about 36,000 people will die from flu related causes.

That's just the "regular" or seasonal flu. This year the 2009-2010 H1NI flu is out there; the one causing the first influenza pandemic (global outbreak of disease) in more than 40 years. So it's more important than ever for anyone who travels to do what they can to stay healthy. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, of course. If you can, stay away from anyone who's already sick. And while you may need to wait until sometime in December to get a vaccine to protect you against the H1N1 flu, right now the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is urging pretty much everyone to get a seasonal flu shot as soon as possible.

The good news for frequent travelers is that "as soon as possible" could be on the way to their next flight. This year, more airports than ever are offering the chance to get the flu shot on the fly. And because of current fears over the flu, several airports are rolling out their service early.

A growing trend

For years, airport and airline employees knew they could drop in at O'Hare International Airport's UIC Medical Center to get a seasonal flu shot. Few passengers, however, ever stopped in to take care of that task. That all changed a few years ago, when the clinic set up flu shot kiosks on the concourse and out by the gates; first at O'Hare airport and then at Chicago's Midway Airport. The first year or two, the registered nurses staffing the booths got some funny looks. But last year, between the two airports, more than 5,000 travelers rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated. I was one of them — rather than sit around being irritated by a flight delay, I marched myself over to the flu shot kiosk at O'Hare. Several other passengers from my flight lined up behind me.