The Liberty County Health Department will begin offering flu vaccine on Monday, Sept. 24. Regular flu shots are $29 and high-dose flu shots – made especially to protect those 65 and older – are $55. Cash, checks, credit cards, most major insurances, Medicaid, and Medicare will be accepted. No appointment is necessary for flu shots.

The flu can cause mild to severe illness and getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community from the virus. Every flu season is different and we never know how bad a flu season is going to be or how long it’s going to last which is why it is important for everyone 6 months of age and older get the flu vaccine every year. It takes about two weeks after getting a flu shot for the vaccine to provide the body protection against the flu. 

While getting the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu, there are other things we can all do every day to prevent getting or spreading the flu:

•Avoid close contact with sick people.

•If you get sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

•While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

•Try to cough or sneeze into the corner of your elbow and not your hand or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

•Wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

•Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.

•Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

For more information, go to www.gachd.org/libertyflu.