• By Felicia Lovett
• Posted Wednesday, December 3, 2014

December 7-13 is National Influenza Vaccination Week

Flu season is here and if you haven’t received your flu vaccine, now is a good time to do so. Getting your flu shot now will give you time to be protected from the flu as you prepare for the holidays and holiday travel because it takes about two weeks for you to be protected. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza disease. By getting a flu shot you protect not just yourself but those around you from the flu. The flu is a serious illness with complications such as pneumonia, worsening of an existing health condition, hospitalization and even death. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, missed work due to your own flu or sick children, and missed school days for children. Flu season in our area peaks around February and can last as late as May.

The seasonal flu vaccine is available at the Forsyth County Health Department. Flu vaccine is the best way to protect you from the flu and is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age. The Forsyth County Health Department will provide flu vaccine to anyone at no cost while supplies last and we are not expecting any flu vaccine shortages. We still have a limited supply of High Dose vaccine for those over the age of 65.

Flu shots are given in Clinic 3 of the Health Dept at 799 N Highland Avenue, Winston Salem during the following hours:

• Mon/Tues/Wed 8:30am-3pm
• Thurs 9:30am-7pm
• Fridays 9am-12noon

Clinic 3 is a walk in clinic; appointments are not necessary.