Folks lined up their cars at the old State Farmers Market in Blue Ridge for drive-by flu vaccines, October 3. The clinic not only helps protect the community from the flu virus, officials said, but also serves as a drill for the Fannin County Health Department and the North Georgia Health District to deliver mass vaccinations or medications during an emergency.
County Nurse Manager Hollye Petty said, “It’s important for people to get their flu shot and this a super convenient, easy way to get your flu shot. It’s also a drill for mass-dispensing medication in an emergency situation.”
Sherry Gregory, Infectious Disease Manager for the North Georgia Health District said, “I think it’s (the flu) going to be pretty significant this year.” As to why she thinks it may be a bad flu season, she said the state began seeing cases in September and that each week the Georgia Department of Public Health releases a flu report, which seems to indicate the flu virus could be prevalent this season.
Public Information Officer Jennifer King and Gregory both agreed people should also practice other healthy habits to prevent the flu virus from spreading, such as washing hands in warm, soapy water often, not touching the face and staying home if sick. “If you need to rub your face for any reason, please use a tissue. Disposable tissues are always best. If you do get sick, please stay home in order to prevent others from getting the flu,” King said.
As to why the flu shot is important, King said, “When you get a flu shot, you are not only helping yourself but you’re also helping those who are around you, especially people who are more vulnerable than you or those who can’t get a flu shot, such as babies. … The flu vaccine builds that wall of immunity in the community that helps protect everyone.”
Gregory said it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to kick in and build the immunity in the body. So, to those folks who say they got the flu from the vaccine, she said, “It’s not a live vaccine, so that (contracting the flu) should not happen because of the shot. It’s just they were exposed to somebody that had the germ, and they just didn’t have the immunity.”
And, to those who may somehow contract a different strain, Gregory said, “It reduces the severity of the flu. Even if they got a different strain, there is still some protection in the flu vaccine.”
The vaccine lasts the length of the flu season, which could start as early as September and last as long as May, King said.