Charlotte, NC – The Mecklenburg County Health Department will host its final scheduled flu shot clinic this season.
- Sunday, November 18
- Mecklenburg County Health Department
- 249 Billingsley Road, Charlotte
- 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Cost for the vaccine is $25 and can be paid for using cash, check or charge. Medicaid and Medicare "B" will also be accepted. Please bring your insurance card. The vaccine is free of charge for children 6 - 59 months.
The Health Department has also begun taking appointments for vaccinations at both locations, 2845 Beatties Ford Road or 249 Billingsley Road. Residents need only call the appointment line at 704-336-6500.
The 2007-2008 influenza season is just beginning. Currently, influenza activity nationwide is very low. But activity will increase and continue through May. Each year, five to 20 percent of the U.S. population is infected with influenza, with an estimated 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths from flu complications in a typical year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that a record 103 million doses of influenza (flu) vaccine had been distributed as of November 2, an amount that represents more doses than had ever previously been distributed by this date.
Good, basic health habits are also essential to staying healthy during the fall and winter months. They can help limit one’s susceptibility to colds and flu. Important but simple tips for staying well include:
- Wash your hands. Cleaning your hands often will help protect you from germs.
- Avoid close contact. Stay away from people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to prevent them from becoming ill.
- Cover your mouth and nose. Cover both with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. This may prevent others from catching your illness.
- Stay home if you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, or errands when you are sick.
The Health Department is not the only provider across the community offering flu shots. Private physicians, along with many drug and grocery stores, will have a wide variety of dates and times from which to choose. To see a list of these options and for more information on protecting yourself from seasonal influenza, visit www.meckhealth.org and click on Flu Watch.
Regular updates in English and Spanish can be heard at the Flu Clinic Information Hotline at 704-336-4667.
