Vaccinations strongly recommended for children

The Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness is currently offering flu shots at seven centers from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm.  Flu vaccinations are recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months in the United States.  To optimize immune response, children aged 6 months through 8 years require 2 doses of influenza vaccine (administered a minimum of 4 weeks apart) during their first season of vaccination if they did not receive or cannot verify receiving the vaccine last year (2010-2011).   Children in this age group who received at least one verifiable flu vaccination last year will need only 1 dose this season.

Residents can get a flu shot or the nasal mist (2 to 49 years) for $25.  Visa and Master Card (credit and debit), Medicaid, Cigna, United Health care) and cash are accepted forms of payment.  The department strongly encourages individuals who fall within a priority high-risk group identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to get vaccinated.

The high priority groups include:

·                 Children ages 6 months and older

·                 Adults ages 50 and older

·                 Persons over 6 months old with certain chronic medical conditions

·                 Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities

·                 Healthcare workers involved in direct patient care

·                 Caregivers, including daycare workers, and household contacts of children under   age 5.

·                 Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season

The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that will cause illness during the flu season. The 2011-2012 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder and less contagious if you get a related but different strain of flu virus.

-Individuals who do not get a flu vaccine are taking two significant risks – one, they are placing themselves at risk for influenza, including a potentially long and serious illness; and two, placing others, especially children ages 6 months and older, adults age 50 and older and persons with chronic medical conditions at risk to develop serious complications.      

Flu vaccinations are available at the following locations:

×    Adamsville Health Center - 3699 Bakers Ferry Rd., SW, Atlanta, 404-699-4215

×    Center Hill Health Center - 3201 Atlanta Indus. Pkwy., Atlanta, 404-699-6370

×    College Park Regional Health Center -1920 John E. Wesley Ave., College Park, 404-765-4155

×    Neighborhood Union Health Center, 186 Sunset Avenue, Atlanta, 404-612-4665

×    Lakewood Health Center - 1853 Jonesboro Rd., SE, Atlanta, 404-624-0626

×    Center for Health and Rehabilitation – 265 Boulevard., NE, Atlanta, 404-730-5835

×    North Fulton Regional Health Center – 3155 Royal Drive, Alpharetta, 404-332-1834

For additional information, visit the Fulton County web site at www.fultoncountygahealth.org.  For more information about the effectiveness of flu vaccine, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm

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