Flu Season Over? Think Again, Health Officials Say

Although it’s off to a very late start this year, flu season has officially begun, says Nurse Manager Teresa Knight.

“While most indicators of seasonal flu activity are currently low, we expect them to increase in the coming weeks,” Knight said in a news release from the Georgia Department of Public Health. “This year the flu season arrived late, latest in 29 years, but flu is very unpredictable. We won’t know how bad this season was until we’re looking at it in the rearview mirror.”

Knight acknowledges it is hard to get people to think about getting a flu shot after an unseasonably mild winter and spring nearly here, but cautions “flu can be very unpleasant, causing many people each year to miss work or school. For some unfortunate folks, it’s deadly.”

Knight reminds that it takes only two weeks for the flu shot to take effect and encourages anyone who wants to protect them and their loved ones that “it’s not too late to get a flu shot and the protection against influenza it provides.”  

The Paulding County Health Department is offering flu shots to anyone 3 years and older for $15 through March. Health department hours are Monday through Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cash, debit cards, checks, VISA and MasterCard are accepted.

For more information, call the Paulding County Health Department at 770-443-7881.