Dalton, GA - Drive-By Flu Shot Clinics led by the six county health departments in the North Georgia Health District are now completed, and as a result, more than 1600 North Georgians are better prepared to face the flu season.
Gilmer County Health Department culminated the series of drive-by flu shot clinics on Thursday, October 3 in Ellijay, when 138 residents were vaccinated.
Previous drive-by flu shot clinics were most recently held by Cherokee County Health Department on October 1, in which 234 shots were provided, and by Fannin County Health Department, which administered 178 vaccinations on September 23.
Earlier, district health departments in Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties provided a total of 1107 flu vaccinations at drive-by flu shot clinics that they each conducted in September.
In addition to providing flu shots quickly, safely and conveniently at the drive-by flu shot clinics, North Georgia Health District county health departments and community partners, including EMA, fire and law enforcement agencies, utilized this as an opportunity to exercise well-prepared plans to rapidly mass dispense medications in times of public health crisis, such as widespread disease outbreaks.
Flu vaccine is available at North Georgia Health District county health departments while doses last. The cost of the regular seasonal flu vaccine through the public health departments is $22 and the high dose vaccine for people ages 65 and older is $50. Cash, checks, Medicare, Medicaid and Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, State Cigna and State United Healthcare Insurance will be accepted.
Arm yourself against the flu this season by getting your flu shot right away and by also avoiding people who are sick, by washing your hands often with soap and water, by not touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands and by disinfecting surfaces and objects that could be contaminated with germs like the flu.
For more information about influenza and how to avoid it, please contact your local health department (please click on above Locations tab) or log onto www.cdc.gov/flu.
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In above photo: Barbara Ann Burgess of Ellijay smiles after receiving a flu shot from Leigh Ann Dover, RN, at Gilmer County Health Dept's Drive-By Flu Shot Clinic