LOCKPORT — Annual flu shots are being distributed about a month earlier than usual, and some locals are eager to get it this year since the flu and H1N1 vaccine are combined into one shot.

Pharmacist Steve Giroux, who owns Middleport Family Health Center, said early distribution of the fu shot is largely a function of manufacturing.

“It was ready early this year by about a month,” Giroux said. “Last year was slowed down because of the H1N1 vaccine that was issued that slowed down the distribution process.”

As for the public, the shot is getting a good response.

“Last year, it seemed like everyone was scrambling for a couple months to get it,” Town of Lockport resident Tom Roman said. “I like that it’s early this year so it’s not so jam-packed in the stores.”

“I don’t have to worry about being sore all day in both arms, like last year when I got the regular flu and swine flu shot,” said Shelby Knowles, who also lives in the Town of Lockport, as she was walking out of Walgreens on Wednesday. “It’s here, it’s convenient; I’m in and out at the pharmacy, and hope to be healthy the rest of the year.”

Giroux said this is the first year the flu vaccine includes H1N1 in one shot. He also said this will be the second full year pharmacists can administer the shots.

“Pharmacists were finally authorized to give the immunization. New York was the 49th state to allow this,” Giroux said. “I think having more than your local doctor’s office or hospital issue the shot is a real benefit for the community.”

With pharmacies, Giroux said you can receive the shot immediately and you do not need an appointment, as you do with your physician.

“Pharmacies just improve the immunization rate because of its convenience, now,” Giroux said. “You walk in and it’s readily accessible.”

Pharmacists around the county — like at Giroux’s practice in Middleport and Summit Park Pharmacy in Wheatfield — said their goal is to have everyone be immunized to reduce the number of flu viruses in the area.

Niagara County Health Department officials were unavailable to comment his past week  on issues such as flu shot supply, flu epidemics and deaths in Niagara County.

“It’s very important just to prevent the flu from manifesting and particularly for those at risk like people who have a pre-existing disease like diabetes,” Giroux said. “Most people get the flu and they’re down and out for a few days, but it can also be deadly. Sometime we just don’t take the flu seriously enough.”

Giroux said getting the flu shot can have a long-term effect.

“Our goal is to get everyone to get the flu shot. Like polio, we want to omit it from the country,” Giroux said. “It’s a seemingly far stretch, but if we help make people aware of the positive effects the shot has, I think more people will get it. It’s extremely safe and effective.”

Pharmacists say flu season runs from November to February in our area.

“It really peaks in those months because of winter and other factors,” Giroux said. “The cold weather weakens the immune system.”

Giroux said during the winter, people are usually “cooped up inside” where the virus can spread.

“And schools are just a breathing ground of germs, because of the same reason: A lot of people are together in a building,” Giroux said. “The virus will just spread from person to person too easily.”

He said one way to improve health care is for public health to improve. Giroux said keeping people out of the hospital by simply educating those on the positive effects of the flu shot is a sort of health care reform.

“Sometimes all we need is something as simple as people to get the flu shot to decrease the number of those who get sick and eliminate it out of the area,” Giroux said. “Essentially, that’s our goal.”