Pittsboro, NC – The Chatham County Public Health Department will begin offering flu vaccines at its Siler City clinic – located at 1000 S. Tenth Ave. – on Monday, September 21. The department urges all county residents age six months and older to get their flu shots this year.
During the 2019-2020 flu season, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, between 39-56 million people in the United States got the flu, between 410,000-740,000 were hospitalized and between 24,000-62,000 people died from the flu.
The CCPHD has updated its seasonal flu web page – found at chathamnc.org/flu – with new information on the current vaccine and FAQs on the 2020-2021 seasonal flu and COVID-19 from the CDC. According to the CDC, it is possible for individuals to have both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect against the flu.
“It is more important than ever to get the flu vaccine this year because COVID-19 remains present in our community,” said Chatham County Interim Public Health Director Mike Zelek. “As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, getting a flu shot will not only help you and your family to stay healthy, but will also reduce the burden on the healthcare system and help our frontline medical workers maintain capacity.”
In addition to getting the flu vaccine, CCPHD encourages everyone to practice good hygiene: Wash your hands regularly, cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and stay home and away from others if you feel sick.
To get a flu shot at the health department’s Siler City clinic, interested individuals will need to call ahead at (919) 742-5641 and schedule an appointment. The vaccine is covered by most insurances, or available for $40.
Children aged 6 months to 18 years can receive a State-subsidized vaccine if they meet at least one of the following criteria:
* Medicaid enrolled – a child who is eligible or enrolled in the Medicaid program.
* Uninsured – a child who has no medical insurance coverage.
* American Indian or Alaskan Native
* Underinsured, which includes:
* Children who have commercial (private) health insurance but the coverage does not include vaccines.
* Children whose insurance covers only selected vaccines.
* Children whose insurance caps vaccine coverage at a certain amount – once that coverage amount is reached, these children are categorized as underinsured.
Additionally, certain adults 19 years old and older without insurance can receive State-subsidized vaccines if they are either:
* Non-Medicaid, uninsured women who are pregnant during flu season and currently receiving services at the clinic, or;
* Persons enrolled in the Be Smart family planning program and are receiving services at the clinic.
In addition to the public health department, the flu vaccine is available through primary care providers and pharmacies throughout the county. Contact your doctor or pharmacy to request a flu shot.
For more information on the seasonal flu, visit chathamnc.org/flu or cdc.gov/flu . For more information on COVID-19, visit chathamnc.org/coronavirus or chathamnc.org/coronavirusespanol (in Spanish). For more information on the Chatham County Public Health Department, visit chathamnc.org/publichealth or facebook.com/chathamhealth .