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This year we are offering the traditional injectable flu vaccine, which contains inactivated (killed) virus, is licensed for anyone age six months and older. The injectable flu vaccine is made from inactivated virus, so it cannot cause influenza. Some patients experience soreness at the injection site lasting less than two days, but serious side effects from this vaccine are extremely rare. This vaccine may come in a multiple-dose vial or in single-dose prefilled syringes. Prefilled syringes for children three years and younger are thimerosal-free.
The vaccine formulation includes protection against A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like, A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like antigens. The fee for flu vaccine at Fulton County Public Health clinics is $25.00 for the flu “shot” . The flu vaccine is available on a sliding scale based on income. Costs vary for flu and pneumococcal vaccines through other providers. Flu and pneumococcal vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B. If you have Medicare coverage and belong to a managed care plan or HMO, you should go to your regular health care provider to receive your vaccine.Injectable Injectible flu vaccine is available at our clinics for infants, children and adults. Other health care providers may have flu vaccine available, too. You can make an appointment for flu vaccine by calling our Public Health clinics now, or check with your regular doctor or clinic.
Department of Health and Wellness has plenty of flu vaccine available for the citizens of Fulton County. Residents of Fulton County may visit the nearest Health and Wellness Health Center to receive their vaccination. Flu Vaccine is available at our health centers. As the flu season progresses the need for flu vaccination may increse, therefore we urge that high-risk individuals and health care workers to get their flu vaccine before they are sick with the flu. For more information about the Flu vaccine, please call the Immunization Program at 404-730-4029, or click here to see a list of the clinics.
 For Flu information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please click here.
For Flu information released by the American Lung Association, please click here
Where can you get a flu shot?
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Following is a list of Fulton County Health and Wellness clinics where the flu shots are still available this season. For specific locations, dates and times near you, please contact the clinics directly.
Who should get flu vaccine?
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People who should receive flu vaccine include those at risk of complications if they get influenza disease, and adults and children who live, work, or may come in contact with people at high risk.These groups specifically include:
- All children6-59 months of age
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
- Persons aged 2-64 years with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease, or diabetes
- Children and adolescents (aged 6 months--18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, to prevent the risk of Reyes’ syndrome;
- Persons with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as seizure disorders or severe cerebral palsy) that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems,
- Persons with weakened immune systems due to HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system, long term treatment with drugs such as steroids or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs.
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions; and
- All persons aged 65 years and older, with or without chronic medical conditions
- Persons aged 50 - 64 years should be vaccinated because of an increased risk for influenza-associated clinic, emergency department, or hospital visits, particularly if they have a high-risk medical condition
Flu vaccine is strongly recommended for:
- Healthy household contacts and caregivers of children aged 0--59 months and persons at high risk for severe complications from influenza and
- Health care workers.
- The CDC has not recommended any prioritization of flu shots this year, so anyone can receive flu vaccine from Public Health centers or other flu vaccine providers, whether you are healthy or you have long-term medical conditions. You may call any of our Public Health centers now for appointments beginning October 30, 2006. For Flu information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please click here.
This is also a good time to check your immunization record for the date of your last tetanus-diphtheria (or Td) booster. A pertussis containing vaccine, Tdap, was licensed in September, 2005 and is available for anyone 11-64 years old who has not had a Td booster in at least 2 years. This can be given at the same visit as you flu shot if possible. Td vaccine was in short supply in 2001 and 2002, and many people were unable to get the dose they needed at that time. Now that the Td supply has returned to normal, you should be able to get the Td or Tdap dose you missed.
Important Reminder: Persons at high risk for influenza-related complications may also need immunization against pneumococcal pneumonia. This vaccine is given only once to most people, with a one-time revaccination recommended for people with certain medical conditions. For information about the pneumococcal vaccine, go to http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-ppv.pdf
Why is flu vaccine important?
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Influenza is a very contagious illness that strikes millions of Americans each year, with pneumonia as the most common complication in high-risk groups. Influenza, unlike the common cold, has a swift onset of severe symptoms beginning with two to seven days of fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, runny nose and sore throat, and a cough that is often severe and may last seven days or more. Information about influenza disease in Fulton County will be updated on this webpage as the season progresses.
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