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Vaccine Available at Health Departments & Upcoming Drive-Thrus in North GA

NORTH GEORGIA– Why is it especially important to get a flu shot this year? Flu vaccine reduces the risk of getting the flu or having severe illness for those who do get the virus. That is particularly crucial considering COVID-19 is circulating and protection against the flu helps strengthen our immune system. Moreover, were we to have a severe flu season in conjunction with the coronavirus pandemic, our healthcare infrastructure could become critically overburdened.

Flu vaccine is available now at county public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties, and beginning next week, the health departments will conveniently inoculate residents 18 and older against the flu at their annual Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinics.

The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics will allow people to stay safely in their vehicles, separated from others, while health department staff wear COVID-19 protective gear as they provide flu vaccinations. Clients driving through will also be required to wear a mask or cloth face covering.

The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics are scheduled, as follows:

Whitfield: Tuesday, September 22nd, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., Dalton Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 279-9600 for more details.

Gilmer: Tuesday, September 22nd, 8 A.M. – 1 P.M., ETC Pavilion: Legion Road, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for more details.

Fannin: Thursday, September 24th, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.

Pickens: Monday, September 28th, 9 A.M. – 2 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for more details.

Murray: Tuesday, September 29th, 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. UPDATE: Due to rain, the Flu Shot Clinic in Murray County is now being conducted INSIDE the building instead of out in the parking lot as a drive-thru, as planned.

Cherokee: Wednesday, September 30th, 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.

Since 2008, public health staff and community partners have tested their plans at the drive-thru flu shot clinics 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, local Law Enforcement and Fire Department.

The health departments offer quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against four strains of influenza, including the regular flu shot and the high-dose flu vaccine that contains four times the amount of protective antigen and is for people sixty-five and older.

The flu vaccine is no cost for anyone under one of several acceptable health insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, and others. For those paying out-of-pocket, the cost is still relatively low at $25 for the regular flu vaccine and $65 for the high-dose vaccine. Cash is accepted along with other forms of payment, depending on the county.

To arrange an appointment for a flu shot a county health department in the North Georgia Health District, log onto www.nghd.org and click on the Locations tab at the top of the home page.

To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.

Vaccine Available at Health Departments & Upcoming Drive-Thrus in North GA

The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics are scheduled, as follows:

Whitfield: Tuesday, September 22nd, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., Dalton Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 279-9600 for more details.

Gilmer: Tuesday, September 22nd, 8 A.M. – 1 P.M., ETC Pavilion: Legion Road, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for more details.

Fannin: Thursday, September 24th, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.

Pickens: Monday, September 28th, 9 A.M. – 2 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for more details.

Murray: Tuesday, September 29th, 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. UPDATE: Due to rain, the Flu Shot Clinic in Murray County is now being conducted INSIDE the building instead of out in the parking lot as a drive-thru, as planned.

Cherokee: Wednesday, September 30th, 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.

To arrange an appointment for a flu shot a county health department in the North Georgia Health District, log onto www.nghd.org and click on the Locations tab at the top of the home page.

To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.

Drive thru Graphic

Get Vaccinated for Low or NO COST in North Georgia!

*See flyers in English and Spanish below!

NORTH GA – Residents wanting an especially safe, convenient way to arm against the flu this year will soon have that opportunity at one of six Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics coming this September!

The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics, conducted by county public health departments in North Georgia, will allow people to stay safely in their vehicles, separated from others, while health department staff wear COVID-19 protective gear as they provide flu vaccinations. Clients driving through will also be required to wear a mask or cloth face covering.

The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics are scheduled, as follows:

Whitfield: Tuesday, September 22nd, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., Dalton Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 279-9600 for more details.

Gilmer: Tuesday, September 22nd, 8 A.M. – 1 P.M., ETC Pavilion: Legion Road, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for more details.

Fannin: Thursday, September 24th, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.

Pickens: Monday, September 28th, 9 A.M. – 2 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for more details.

Murray: Tuesday, September 29th, 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. UPDATE: Due to expected rainstorms, the Flu Shot Clinic in Murray County will now be conducted INSIDE the building instead of out in the parking lot, as planned.

Cherokee: Wednesday, September 30th, 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.

Since 2008, public health in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties has made it possible for residents 18 and older to roll in, roll up a sleeve and arm themselves against the flu safely, quickly and conveniently while seated in their vehicles. But this year, with COVID-19 transmitting in our communities, it is more important than ever that we protect against the flu, reducing the dangerous risk of having both illnesses at the same time.

The four-in-one, or quadrivalent, flu vaccine offered at the clinics will be the regular flu vaccine as well as a high-dose flu 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.

The high-dose flu vaccine contains four times the amount of protective antigen for immune systems that tend to weaken with age.

The flu vaccine is no-cost for anyone under one of several acceptable health insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, and others. For those paying out-of-pocket, the cost is still relatively low at $25 for the regular flu vaccine and $65 for the high-dose vaccine. 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.

To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.

See Each County Health Dept's DRIVE-THRU FLU SHOT CLINIC flyer below in English y Espanol.

Click to enlarge.