Public Health Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics offer 4-in-1 Flu Shot & High-Dose!

Drive by and arm against four strains of flu this fall at a Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic in north Georgia.

Fast, safe, and convenient, the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics are conducted annually in the North Georgia Health District by public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and *Whitfield Counties. These clinics are designed to serve people quickly and efficiently as they remain in their vehicles.

This year, the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics will offer the 4-in-1 quadrivalent flu vaccine.

Quadrivalent flu vaccine is similar to the more commonly used trivalent flu vaccine; but, instead of protecting against just three strains of influenza, quadrivalent flu vaccine is designed to protect against four different strains of flu, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses.

Also, *Fluzone High-Dose influenza vaccine will be available to people ages 65 and older. Fluzone High-Dose influenza vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibodies) contained in regular flu vaccine to provide extra protection for people whose immune systems have become weaker with age.

*Update, 9/16:The Whitfield County Health Department's Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic will only serve people ages 65+ with the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine. Click here for more details.

The cost of the quadrivalent flu shot will be $25 and the Fluzone High-Dose flu shot will cost $50. Cash, checks, Medicare and Medicaid plus Aetna and BlueCross BlueShield Health Insurance will be accepted. The Cherokee County Health Department will also accept credit cards.

Beyond providing residents with protection against the upcoming flu season, the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics provide public health staff and community partners with the opportunity to test their plans for rapidly administering medication during a public health crisis such as a widespread disease outbreak. 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.

The Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics are scheduled in each county as follows:

• Cherokee: Tuesday, October 7th, 7:30 A.M. – 6 P.M., Woodstock Health Center: 7545 North Main Street, Woodstock, GA. Call (770) 928-0133 or (770) 345-7371 for details.
• Fannin: Wednesday, October 1st, 9 A.M. – 5 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for details.
• Gilmer: Friday, October 10th, 8 A.M. – 4 P.M., First United Methodist Church of Ellijay: 75 McCutchen Street, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for details.
• Murray: Tuesday, September 23rd, 8 A.M. – 6 P.M., Murray County Recreation Center: 651 Hyden Tyler Road, Chatsworth, GA. Call (706) 695-4585 for details.
• Pickens: Tuesday, September 30th, 8 A.M. – 4 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for details.
• *Whitfield: Tuesday, September 23rd, 8 A.M. – 5:30 P.M., Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 226-2621 for details.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season.

The most convenient way to get that vaccine in north Georgia will be at the nearest county health department’s Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic.

For additional details about the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics, call the local county health department. To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.