North Georgia – Residents are getting ready to drive through and beat the flu at one of six public health Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics held over the next two weeks in the North Georgia Health District.
The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics start tomorrow, September 25th, and each will be held by the county health departments for one day at various locations through October 9th, as follows:
Cherokee: Tuesday, September 25th, 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.
Pickens: Tuesday, September 25th, 8:30 A.M. – 3 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for more details.
Fannin: Wednesday, September 26th, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.
Whitfield: Tuesday, October 2nd, 9 A.M. – 5 P.M., Dalton Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 279-9600 for more details.
Gilmer: Thursday, October 4th, 8:30 A.M. – 2 P.M., Pleasant Grove Baptist Church: 115 Pleasant Grove Road, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for more details.
Murray: Tuesday, October 9th, 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.
These clinics serve people ages 18 and over.
No additional charges for a flu shot will be required of anyone who is under Medicare or Medicaid or has a health insurance plan through Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, Humana and some other health insurance companies, depending on the county.
Otherwise, the cost of the four-in-one quadrivalent flu vaccine will be $25 and the Fluzone High Dose vaccine that provides added protection for people ages sixty-five and older will be $65.
Cash and checks will be accepted at the Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics in each county, and credit cards will also be accepted at the clinics being held in Cherokee and Pickens Counties.
The CDC recommends getting a flu shot before the flu begins spreading in communities. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so people should get a flu shot by the end of October before the flu season begins and prior to seasonal get-togethers when flu is more easily spread from person to person.
In addition to getting a flu shot, other protective measures to prevent the flu are to:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Practice other good health habits, such as clean and disinfect surfaces, get enough sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
And remember, the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. The most convenient way to get that shot in North Georgia is at the nearest public health Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinic.
For additional details about the Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics, click here to the North Georgia Health District website. To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.