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HomeNewsTennessee Department of Health Clinics to offer Free Flu Vaccine

Tennessee Department of Health Clinics to offer Free Flu Vaccine

Tennessee Department of HealthNashville, TN – Tennessee’s county health department clinics are now offering flu vaccine to people of all ages at no cost to patients until vaccine supplies are depleted. Seasonal influenza is now widespread in Tennessee.

The Department of Health urges all Tennesseans who have not yet received a flu vaccine to get one now to help protect themselves and those around them from the flu virus.

“We have a supply of flu vaccine available and want to see as many Tennesseans vaccinated as possible to protect the health of those in our state,” said Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “Getting vaccinated against the flu is the best way to protect your family, friends, coworkers and yourself from the illness.”

TDH operates health department clinics in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Flu vaccine will be provided to both adults and children at no cost to patients until all doses are administered. Flu vaccine supplies and plans to offer vaccinations will vary from county to county, so individuals are urged to contact their local county health department for information. A list of Tennessee’s county health department clinics is available online at http://health.state.tn.us/localdepartments.htm.

TDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone over the age of six months. CDC said this week that this year’s flu vaccine is a good match for the flu strains currently circulating in the U.S, and cautioned that the most common strain of influenza now circulating tends to cause more severe illness, particularly among the elderly. Seasonal flu activity is now highest in the southeastern and south central U.S., including Tennessee.

The flu vaccine is especially important for people at high risk for serious illness or death from influenza such as the elderly, pregnant women and young children, as well as healthcare workers and family and friends of anyone at high risk. Expectant mothers should be vaccinated during pregnancy to protect themselves and pass protection on to their unborn babies.

For more information on flu vaccine, including a tool to find vaccine providers in your area, visit the Department of Health website at http://health.state.tn.us/FluClinic/Default.aspx.

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