Published: August 25, 2008 07:28 pm      

Some flu vaccine available in October during emergency exercises

Health departments in Whitfield and Murray counties will administer free flu vaccine to ages 18 and older in October as part of emergency preparedness exercises, health officials said Monday.

“We are encouraging adults who are most in need of receiving this limited supply of free shots to participate in these clinics,” said Dr. Harold Pitts, director of the North Georgia Health District. “Our goal is to increase flu vaccination rates among the most vulnerable of our adult population, including the uninsured and underinsured.”

More details regarding the clinics will be available soon, health district officials said. The vaccine is made possible thanks to a public health enhancement grant.

Although the emergency preparedness exercises will focus exclusively on adults, children ages six months and older can receive flu vaccine at the local health departments and local health care providers, as always, officials said.

For more information about influenza and its prevention, contact the county health departments or log onto http://health.state.ga.us/. The number for the Whitfield County health department is (706) 279-9600 and the number for the Murray County health department is (706) 695-4585.