BURLINGTON – Beginning Thursday, December 6, the Alamance County Health Department will provide the seasonal flu vaccine for free to everyone six months old and older.
Flu shots are available at the health department on a walk-in basis, Monday-Friday (excluding holidays), at the following times:
8:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
“The holidays are fast approaching, now is a great time to give the gift of protection from flu to yourself and your family,” states Christie Sykes, Alamance County Health Department Immunization Coordinator. “Vaccination combined with hand washing and covering your cough can reduce your chance of getting the flu this year.”
In addition, December 2-8 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.
According to a recent CDC statement, significant increases in flu activity in the United States have occurred in the last two weeks, indicating an early flu season. According to Dr. Melinda Wharton, Acting Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, “Increasing flu activity should be a wake-up call. For anyone who has put off vaccination: It’s time to get your flu vaccine now.”
Since September, the health department has administered 1,250 doses of flu vaccine. In 2011, the health department administered approximately 1,500 doses during the flu season. For more information, call the health department at 336-227-0101 or visit www.alamance-nc.com.