Don't Be One Of The Hundreds Of Tennesseans Who Will Die

The Cannon County Health Department will offer the seasonal flu vaccine on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Community/Recreational Center, 630 Lehman St.

No appointment is need to receive the flu shot. Those wishing to receive the vaccine are urged to wear short sleeves.

Seasonal flu is a preventable illness that can be serious and even deadly. Each year 5 to 20 percent of the country's population gets seasonal flu. Nationwide, more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year with complications from seasonal flu and more than 36,000 die from the illness. In Tennessee, an estimated 700 people die from seasonal flu each year.

The Cannon County Health Department urges seasonal flu vaccination to prevent illness. The vaccine is particularly recommended for the elderly, young children and people with certain health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease since they are at high risk for complications from seasonal flu.

The cost of the flu shot is $25 for adults and $13.70 for children. The Health Dept. will bill Medicare and other third party payors as appropriate. Please bring all insurance cards.

The Cannon County Health Department will also offer H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. This vaccine is now being manufactured and tested in a manner similar to that of the seasonal flu vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccines available now is not effective against the H1N1 virus, and both kinds of flu are expected to circulate this year. The health department therefore strongly encourages everyone to get both types of flu vaccines. The public will be notified immediately when the H1N1 vaccines is available.

Call the Cannon County Health Dept. at 615-563-4243 for more information.