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The Walker County Health Department (WCHD), 603 E. Villanow St., LaFayette, now offers flu shots.
Please call the health department at 706-638-5577 to make an appointment.
Public health experts say the timing is right for people to consider getting vaccinated for the next influenza season. "Get your flu shot as soon as it's available every year," says Tracy Pevehouse, nurse director of the Walker County Health Department. There are many 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. "
Pevehouse says that every six months or so should receive a flu shot 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. That's why it's best to get vaccinated in September or early October before the flu season really begins.
"The flu vaccine will last all season long," says Pevehouse. "It's never too early to get vaccinated because we can not predict the start of the flu season, but it can be too late." The flu season usually starts in October. influenza 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 until two weeks after childbirth,
residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and
people with health problems, 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, Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Georgia BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna and United Health Care SHBP.
The opening hours of the Walker County Department of Health are Monday to Wednesday from 7:30 am to 5 pm, Thursdays from 8 am to 6:30 pm, and Fridays from 8 am to 2 pm The opening hours of the Environmental Health Office are Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 5 pm and Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Contact Walker County Health Unit, 603 E. Villanow Street, LaFayette, at 706-638-5577; Office of Environmental Health, 101 Napier Street, LaFayette, 706-639-2574, or visit www.nwgapublichealth.org/counties/walker.
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