Pike County health officials stress importance of flu shots

“So, that allows us also to go into participating Boone County elementary, middle and high schools to provide those vaccines on various days”, said Waner.

“Flu is not just a bad cold”.

This year’s vaccine, however, is different, according to Morita. During recent flu seasons, between 80% and 90% of flu related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older. But it’s still too early to tell.

Every year around 200,000 people are hospitalized from the seasonal flu in the US. There is a suggested donation of $15 per flu shot.

Flu shot: Ideally you should get the shot by October.

He said that those most vulnerable to the virus are young children and the elderly, and that getting a flu shot is not only important to protecting oneself but also to protecting the community as a whole.

Doctors said those with low immune systems are more susceptible to catching the virus.

Visit the Health Map Vaccine Finder to locate where to get a flu vaccine. Alicia Fry is a medical epidemiologist, Influenza Division of the Centers for Disease Control and says flu season typically starts in November but there is no way to predict how severe it will be.

“We don’t have vaccine effectiveness estimates for this season yet”, Grohskoph said, “but the composition of this season’s vaccine has been updated to better match circulating viruses”.

It’s that time of year again, flu season.

Flu shots are now available at the Forsyth County Health Department (see below).

Often times, symptoms for the flu and common cold sound the same, but health officials say when you have the flu, you’ll know it because you will feel really sick, really fast. The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the disease.

A limited number of free flu vaccines will be available for adults and children during a Drive-through Point of Dispensing Exercise to be held Thursday, October 1, at Savannah Church of Christ in Savannah.