National Influenza Vaccination Week is a Reminder to ARM AGAINST THE FLU
Announcements, Health December 2, 2019
National Influenza Vaccination Week is a Reminder to ARM AGAINST THE FLU
NORTH GA – It’s that time of year again, north Georgians — flu season. As family and friends
gather for the holidays, flu activity is increasing. Anyone still unvaccinated should get a flu
vaccination right away.
December 1-7, 2019 is this year’s National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) in which health
officials highlight the importance of being vaccinated against the flu during the holiday season
and beyond. This week serves as a reminder that anyone who can be vaccinated should do so
to protect as many people as possible against flu. Everyone 6 months of age and older should
get a flu vaccination every season.
Since this past August, public health staff in the North Georgia Health District have given over
7,440 flu vaccinations, and doses are still available at public health departments in these North
Georgia counties:
Cherokee County: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-7371 and 7545 North
Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133
Fannin County: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023
Gilmer County: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706) 635-4363
Murray County: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (706) 695-4585
Pickens County: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821
Whitfield County: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, (706) 279-9600
Flu vaccine is no cost at county health departments in North Georgia for anyone under an
acceptable health insurance plan such as Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross
BlueShield, United Healthcare, and others. For those without insurance coverage, the cost is
still relatively low. The regular flu shot is $25 and the high-dose flu shot recommended for
people ages 65 and older is $65.
There are many reasons to get a flu vaccination.
Flu vaccine can reduce a person’s risk of flu illness, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school
due to flu. Even if a vaccinated person still gets sick, flu vaccine can reduce the severity of the
illness.
Flu vaccine also helps protect women during and after pregnancy and protects the baby born to
a vaccinated mom for several months after birth.
Flu vaccine has saved children’s lives, prevented serious events associated with chronic lung
disease, diabetes and heart disease, and prevented flu-related hospitalization among working
age adults and older adults.
Getting vaccinated is not just about keeping healthy. It is also about not spreading the virus,
protecting others in the community who may be vulnerable to becoming very sick, such as
babies, older adults and pregnant women.
Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics Coming to North Georgia in October
Announcements, Health September 4, 2019
Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics Coming to North Georgia in October
Roll in, roll up a sleeve and arm against the flu!
North Georgia – It will soon be that time of year again, North Georgians. The opportunity to drive through and beat the flu at one of six public health Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics is coming in October!
The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics, conducted annually by county public health departments in North Georgia, are scheduled this year, as follows:
Cherokee: Tuesday, October 1st, 9 A.M. – 2 P.M., Woodstock City Church: 150 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock, GA. Call (770) 928-0133 or (770) 345-7371 for more details.
Whitfield: Tuesday, October 1st, 8 A.M. – 5 P.M., Dalton Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 279-9600 for more details.
Gilmer: Wednesday, October 2nd, 8 A.M. – 3 P.M., Pleasant Grove Baptist Church: 115 Pleasant Grove Road, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for more details.
Fannin: Thursday, October 3rd, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.
Pickens: Tuesday, October 8th, 8:30 A.M. – 3 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for more details.
Murray: Tuesday, October 15th, 8 A.M. – 6 P.M., Murray County Parks and Recreation Department: 651 Hyden Tyler Road, Chatsworth, GA. Call (706) 695-4585 for more details.
Since 2008, public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties have made it possible for residents to roll in, roll up a sleeve and arm themselves against the flu safely, quickly and conveniently while seated in their vehicles.
The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics serve people ages 18 and over.
The types of flu vaccine offered at the clinics are the four-in-one quadrivalent flu vaccine and the high-dose vaccine for people sixty-five and older.
Quadrivalent flu vaccine protects people against four different strains of flu, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses.
High-dose flu vaccine is for people 65 years of age and older and contains four times the amount of protective antigen for immune systems that tend to weaken with age.
The vaccine is no-cost for anyone under one of several acceptable health insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, and others. For those without insurance coverage, the cost is still relatively low. The quadrivalent flu shot is $25 and the high-dose flu shot is $65. Cash will be accepted along with other forms of payment, depending on the county.
While arming residents against the flu at the Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics, public health staff and community partners test their plans for standing up a temporary Point of Dispensing (POD) to rapidly administer medication during a public health crisis. Participating community partners include local law enforcement, volunteers, businesses and first responders such as the county Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Department.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctor visits, and missed days from work and school, and it can prevent flu-related hospitalizations. As people get vaccinated, they are not only protecting themselves, but they are also helping to prevent the spread of the flu to others, including older people, very young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination. The most convenient way to get that vaccination in North Georgia is at the nearest public health Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinic.
For additional details about the Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics, contact one of the local county health departments listed above or log on here to the North Georgia Health District website.
To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.