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National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is an annual observance in December to remind everyone 6 months and older that there’s still time to get vaccinated against flu. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, including pregnant people and young children. Millions of children get sick with flu every year, and thousands will be hospitalized as a result. Pregnant people also are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.

Since flu viruses are constantly changing and protection from vaccination decreases over time, getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to reduce your risk from flu. A ​flu vaccine is the only vaccine that protects against flu and has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

This week is meant to remind people that there is still time to benefit from the first and most important action in preventing flu illness and potentially serious flu complications: get a flu vaccine today. Flu vaccines are readily available at health departments in the North Georgia Health District, including Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties. NO appointment is needed, and flu vaccine is either NO or Low cost to individuals, depending on their healthcare coverage.

Learn more about National Influenza Vaccination Week and share the information with loved ones and friends via tools provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/nivw/index.htm. Together, we can use NIVW as a nationwide call to action to encourage everyone 6 months and older to get their annual flu vaccine, especially pregnant people, young children, and others at higher risk. The more people vaccinated against flu, the more people are protected from flu.