Officials with the Dubois County Health Department say their adult and pediatric seasonal flu vaccine is now available.
Folks can stop by for a shot daily from 8 till 11 am and from 1 till 3 pm.
Available again this year will be High Dose Influenza vaccine for those over the age of 65.
Human immune defenses become weaker with age, which places older people at greater risk of severe illness from influenza.
The Health Department is partnering with VaxCare, which will submit claims to certain private insurance companies and Medicare Part B.
All Medicare and insurance cards must be presented at the time of service. Most insurance plans and Medicare Part B cover flu as preventative health.
By far, the single best way to prevent the flu is for individuals to get a vaccination each fall. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine. No prescription is required and no appointment is necessary.
Pneumonia vaccine is also available.
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against four influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.
While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that certain people get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.
The flu can include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.
The health department says in addition to being vaccinated, individuals can protect themselves from the flu by practicing good health habits, which include: getting plenty of rest; eating right; washing your hands; sneezing or coughing into your shirt sleeve or tissue; avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth; not visiting people who are sick and staying home if you are sick.
