Health departments now offering flu vaccines.

Rome, GA:  Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District county health departments are now offering flu vaccines on either a walk-in basis, an appointment basis, or both. Contact your local county health department for specific days, hours, and to confirm if an appointment is needed or not.

Getting a flu vaccine is the single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against influenza.

Health departments have a quadrivalent flu vaccine for anyone six months and older and a quadrivalent, high-dose flu vaccine for adults 65 and older. The quadrivalent vaccines are designed to protect against four different flu viruses, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses, and the high-dose vaccine is designed to help older adults have a stronger immune system response.

Acceptable payment methods include cash, credit-or-debit card, Medicare, Medicaid, Amerigroup, PeachState CareSource, Aetna, Ambetter, and most Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield, and United Health Care plans. Otherwise, the cost is $35 for those with insurance the health department doesn’t take ($55 for the high dose).  It is $20 for those with no insurance or underinsured.

Northwest Health District health departments will soon be offering protection against two other common respiratory illnesses. Sometime this fall, health departments will have a new Covid vaccine available which will help provide protection against the new EG.5 variant, now the dominant strain of the virus in the U.S. Later this fall, health departments also be offering new R.S.V. (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccines for older adults and pregnant women, and, for infants, an antibody therapy, which is not a vaccine, to help protect against this common respiratory virus. We’ll make information about these available as soon as possible.

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About the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District:  The Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District works to track and prevent the spread of disease; promote health, safety, and wellbeing through education and communication; and prepare for, respond to, and ensure our communities are ready to handle public health emergencies, thereby improving the quality of life for individuals and families in ten northwest Georgia counties: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk and Walker.  Our county health departments provide a variety of medical services; monitor area environmental safety, including restaurant inspections; and help ensure their communities are prepared for disasters. Find us on the web at www.nwgapublichealth.org. Follow us on Facebook to receive news, emergency messages, and health-and-safety information at www.facebook.com/NorthwestHealthDistrict

 

September 13th, 2023 | Posted in News