9-27-15
(GAINESVILLE) – Flu season is right around the corner and the White County Health Department encourages everyone to get vaccinated now. For added convenience, the White County Health Department will hold a special drive-through flu vaccination clinic for adults 18 years of age and older on October 15 at The Bridge Church located at 976 E. Kytle Street in Cleveland from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Both seasonal flu vaccine and the high-dose flu vaccine recommended for persons 65 years of age and older will be available.
At the drive-through clinic, the health department will accept cash, checks and these insurance plans: Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Coventry, and United Health Care (state health benefit plan). Please bring your insurance card with you.
Flu vaccine is also available at the health department from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday. The health department accepts debit and credit cards, Peach Care, Peach State, Amerigroup and Well Care in addition to the insurances named above.
This year, the health department will again offer flu vaccinations for students and teachers at White County Schools. Look for more information from your school about this opportunity to get vaccinated.
Influenza activity usually lasts from October to May in the United States, but can occur at any time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone who can get vaccinated for influenza do so each year.
The flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses and it is especially important for certain people, who are at more risk from flu-related complications to get immunized. These groups include:
- Pregnant women
- Children 6 to 59 months of age
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems
- People who live in nursing homes and other long–term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Another important step in protecting against flu viruses is preventing the spread of germs. To help stop the spread of germs wash your hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover coughs and sneezes and stay home if you are sick. Cleaning and disinfecting common surfaces in your home and work area can also limit the spread of germs.
If you experience flu symptoms – fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue – you can seek advice from your healthcare provider. If you have the flu, your healthcare provider may prescribe antiviral medicine which can make the illness milder and shorten the time you are sick.
