To be better prepared for a predicted superflu outbreak or a possible bioterror attack, Douglas County health officials are planning a free flu vaccination session next month at Free State High School.

“This exercise is a great opportunity for our staff to practice our response to a public health emergency,” said Kay Kent, health department director. “The public will be able to learn what is expected in the event of a large-scale public health emergency.”

The exercise, dubbed Flu-X, is designed to allow the health department the opportunity to practice vaccinating a large group of people in a short period of time. Flu shots will be available to the public at no cost that day. Everyone ages 6 months and older will be able to get the shot.

Flu-X is a federally funded exercise and Douglas County is one of 10 Kansas counties participating. The exercises will be monitored by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The health department also is accepting volunteers who want to help with Flu-X. Support personnel, vaccinators, translators and vaccinator drawers are sought. If interested, call Stacy Robarge at 843-3060.

Though health officials say they don’t expect some of the problems of last year’s flu season to repeat themselves this year, a widespread outbreak of virulent flu strains at some point in the near future is thought to be all but certain. And, of course, emergency workers are trying to be ready for any bioterror attack, which by definition would be a surprise.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently issued the first draft of a report about preparing for the next flu pandemic. The report, “The Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan,” says the arrival of the next pandemic is just a matter of time.

There were three flu pandemics in the 20th century, the worst occurring in 1918, killing 500,000 Americans and 20 million people worldwide.

The federal plan stresses ways to speed up vaccine production and limit the spread of a super flu.

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State and local health officials are studying the report.

It always is hard to predict how hard the flu bug will strike, Douglas County health officials said.

“So far we are not getting any indication about what this year might be like,” said Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“Last year the flu hit hard and early but then it tapered off and wasn’t really much worse than other flu seasons,” said Barbara Schnitker, director of nurses at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

Initial shortages of flu vaccine last year and previous years caused health departments across the nation to offer the vaccine first to those most at risk of getting the flu and suffering severe complications. Included were the elderly, very young children and those with certain health problems such as heart disease.

That isn’t the case this year, despite a recent announcement by one company making the vaccine that some of its vaccine didn’t meet production standards and will have to be replaced. The company, Chiron, said its vaccine shipments might be delayed by two weeks.

Chiron is not the only company making a vaccine, however, and health experts expect only a slight rescheduling of vaccination clinics in some places. The effect in Kansas should be minimal, if at all, Watson said.