Flu shots now available

Seasonal influenza vaccine is now available at the Cannon County Health Department. Flu vaccine will be offered on Friday Oct 11th,Friday Oct 18, and Wednesday Oct 23 at Cannon County Health Dept at 301 W. Main St. from  08:30am to 3:00pm.  No appointment is needed to get a flu vaccine. OR Please call the Health Department at 615-563-4243 to make an appointment to get your flu vaccine. Flu shots (and/or FluMist nasal spray vaccine) will be provided during the vaccination clinic.

"It takes about two weeks to be protected after you get the flu vaccine, so it's a good idea to get the vaccine as soon as it's available," said Andrea Fox. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months of age and older get their yearly flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available in their community. However, we will continue to vaccinate residents as long as we have supplies of vaccine."

Seasonal flu is a preventable, contagious illness that can be serious and even deadly. Each year, we experience an epidemic of flu during the fall or winter; the size and severity of these epidemics are unpredictable. Even during mild flu seasons, local outbreaks can affect large numbers of people in a community. Nationally, thousands of people die from influenza each year, most of them over age 65; however, the flu can cause serious illness for pregnant women and other people of any age. 

The Cannon County Health Department urges vaccination as the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. The seasonal flu vaccines available this year include protection against H1N1 flu in addition to other strains of seasonal flu expected to circulate this year. Flu vaccine will be plentiful and is already available from many providers, including private physicians and pharmacies. 

The cost of the flu shot (and/or FluMist) is $30 for each vaccine; the cost will be charged on a sliding fee scale based on patient income. Payment can be made in the form of cash, check or credit card, and Medicare and TennCare can be billed. Private insurance will not be billed; however, those with private insurance that covers flu vaccination will be given a receipt to file their own claims with their insurance providers.

To make an appointment for vaccination or ask questions about flu vaccine, call the Cannon County Health Department at 615-563-4243