Public health officials in Northeast Georgia are encouraging people to get vaccinated ahead of flu season. To make it as convenient as possible, local health departments are finalizing plans for their fall drive-thru flu shot clinics.
District 2 Public Health, oversees the departments in 13 Northeast Georgia counties.
“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for everyone in our community to get vaccinated against the flu. The Flu Drive-Thru Clinics offer a safe and convenient option for individuals and families to protect themselves and others from influenza,” says District 2 Health Director Dr. Zachary Taylor.
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, can have severe consequences for individuals of all ages. This year’s flu shot protects against four of the influenza viruses expected to be the most common this season. While the shots don’t always provide total protection, they do help guard against serious infection.
Drive-thru clinic schedule
District 2 Public Health released a schedule of the drive-thru flu clinics set to take place this year across Northeast Georgia.
The first clinic is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19 at the Hart County Health Department. Habersham County will hold its drive-thru clinic from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the following Wednesday, September 26.
Franklin County will hold three flu clinics between September and October and Stephens County is offering two. See the flu clinic schedule below for details:
No appointments are necessary, however, locations and hours are subject to change. You should contact your local health department before attending.
Most insurances will be accepted at the drive-thru flu clinics, says District 2 Health Public Information Officer Natasha Young.
“All health departments accept most commercial insurance plans, including Medicare, and Medicaid for no co-pay. Self-pay pricing is available for those who are uninsured or underinsured,” says Young. For more information, visit phdistrict2.org or contact your local health department.
The Northeast Health District, which covers six Northeast Georgia counties, including Jackson and Clarke, is offering flu shots at its health departments.
Flu facts from the CDC
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone 6 months and older is eligible to receive a flu shot.
In the United States, flu season occurs in the fall and winter. While influenza viruses spread year-round, most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, but activity can last as late as May
While vaccine effectiveness (VE) can vary, recent studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to those used to make flu vaccines.
Despite what you may have heard, health experts say flu vaccines do not cause the flu.
Flu shots are currently made in two ways: either with flu vaccine viruses that have been killed (inactivated) and are not infectious, or with proteins from a flu virus. If you contract the flu after getting the shot, health professionals say it’s because you were already infected. Experts say that’s why early intervention is key.
