The department

will give flu vaccinations today through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

on a walk-in basis to those who fall into the following high risk categories:

Persons 65

or older; residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions; adults

and children aged 6 months and older who have chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular

disease, including asthma; adults and children 6 months and older who

have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the

preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes

mellitus), kidney dysfunction, blood disorders, or immune system problems;

children and teenagers (6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term

aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome

after influenza infection; women who will be in the second or third trimester

of pregnancy during the influenza season.

Those who can

transmit influenza to those at high risk also should be immunized, including:

Those who work

in a medical setting, including emergency response workers; employees

of nursing homes or other chronic care facilities and assisted living

residences who come in contact with patients or residents; persons who

provide home care to persons in high-risk groups; household members (including

children 6 months and older) of persons in high-risk groups.

"If you

do not fit into one of the above high-risk categories, please don't worry,"

said Grant. "Simply come in during the next week or thereafter for

your immunization. We will continue to give flu vaccine as it arrives,

and until our total order has been depleted."

Flu season

last year in Georgia, according to the Office of Epidemiology, lasted

from late December through the first week of February. The number of confirmed

flu cases peaked the first week of January.

Vaccination

against several types of pneumonia also is available. This is particularly

recommended for persons over 65, or anyone with a chronic illness. Boosters

are necessary only in a very few cases. The cost for the flu vaccination

is $10. Cash, checks or Part B Medicare are accepted (be sure to bring

your Medicare card with you).

Medicare HMOs

will not cover the cost of this vaccine being delivered by the Health

Department, but it will cover the cost if you receive it from your PCP:

and you will not be billed for an office visit in most cases. The fee

for the Pneumococcal vaccine is also $10, and must be paid by cash or

check.

Clients must

be 18 or older to receive the vaccination, or must be accompanied by parents.

For information

visit www.fayettecountyhealthdepartment.org . Or listen to the department's

voice mail message at 770-461-1178, extension 5416.