If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, don’t delay. Flu activity is already widespread in Georgia – earlier than it has been in recent years, public health officials say.
Health officials had predicted a more severe flu season this year due to an easing of pandemic restrictions on mask-wearing and social distancing.
“Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine – not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications,” says state public health commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey.
It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so now is the time to get a flu shot.
Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.
The flu vaccine is widely available in public health departments, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics, and pharmacies.
To find a location near you, visit Vaccines.gov.
The flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID vaccine and health officials encourage people to get the updated COVID booster shot.
Other flu prevention tips
There are other tried and true measures you can take to help prevent the spread of flu:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing
- If a tissue is not available, sneeze or cough into your sleeve to contain the droplets (don’t sneeze or cough into your hands)
- Clean hands with soap and water or decontaminate hands with an alcohol-based hand rub
- Stay home if you are ill.
In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend the use of antiviral drugs that fight the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines and are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.
For more information about the flu and how to prevent it, visit dph.ga.gov/flu.
