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The Floyd County Health Department, located at 16 East 12th St., now offers walk-in flu shots.
"Get your flu shot as soon as it's available every year," says Alison Watson, nurse manager of the Floyd County Health Department. "There are a lot of them in our community right now, including in the health department where we have the quadrivalent vaccine that offers broader protection against influenza viruses in circulation. We also have the high-dose influenza vaccine, which is more effective for people 65 years and older. "
Watson said that all children six months of age and older should receive an influenza vaccine by the end of October, if possible.
The flu season can start early and it takes about two weeks after the vaccination for the full effect of the antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.
"The flu shot will last all season long," says Watson. "It's never too early to get vaccinated because we can not predict exactly when the flu season starts, but it may be too late."
The flu season usually starts in October, but can start in September and continue until March. The flu season in Georgia usually occurs in late January and early February.
Who should get a flu shot? All people six months of age and older should get the flu shot every season. Vaccination against influenza is particularly important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including:
• children under five, but especially children under two,
• adults 65 years old and over,
• pregnant women and women up to two weeks after childbirth,
• residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and
• people with medical conditions, including asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
It is especially important to get the flu shot if you, someone you live with, or someone you care for is at high risk for flu complications.
Pregnant women are also advised to be vaccinated against influenza during the trimesters of their pregnancy. The seasonal flu vaccine is also useful for pregnant women. Not only does it protect against the flu, but it also protects their newborns, at least during the first months of life, at a time when infants are too young to receive the vaccine themselves.
Accepted payment methods include cash, credit or debit cards, all Medicaid plans, Medicare, Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. Customers can call the health department at 706-295-6123 for pricing information.
The opening hours of the Floyd County Health Department are Monday to Wednesday from 8 am to 5 pm, Thursday from 8 am to 6:30 pm and Friday from 8 am to 2 pm Please note that the health service is closed for lunch from Monday to Thursday from 12:00 to 13:00 and for staff training from 8:00 to 12:00 on the third Thursday of each month.
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