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Calvert County Health Department Seasonal Flu Vaccination Schedule

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccination. Yearly vaccination for persons 6 months and older is the best way to prevent getting the flu. For ways to help prevent flu, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm

You can get flu vaccinations at the Health Department:

• Tuesday mornings from 8:30 am - 11:00 am. No appointment is necessary.
• Other days by scheduled appointment.

Children and adolescents ages 6 months through 18 years may receive a free flu shot if they are Medicaid eligible, are uninsured, if their private insurance does not cover influenza shots, or if they are American Indian or Alaska Native.

All others - $20 for quadrivalent seasonal vaccine and $40 for High-dose vaccine (ages 65 and over).  Cash, check, VISA, MasterCard or Medicare Part B accepted at the Health Department.

Seasonal Flu Vaccination Information Frequently Asked Flu Questions 2017-2018 Influenza Season

This year, as in 2016, the influenza vaccine will be available by injection only. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that FluMist nasal spray should not be used during the 2017-2018 flu season. Recent studies have shown that after years of very good success with the nasal spray vaccine, there has been a significant drop in effectiveness over the past few influenza seasons. Until the reason for the decrease in effectiveness from the spray is better understood, the CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older with injectable vaccine. Parents should be aware that children with asthma and diabetes are most at risk for serious complications from the flu, and all efforts should be made to get your child vaccinated.

Injectable Flu Vaccine (needle & syringe only) for ages 6 months and older:
See Vaccine Information Statement for Complete Details

* High dose flu vaccine is available for persons 65 years of age and older *

Flu Information Microsite (CDC)

Public and Private School Flu Initiative

Public and Private School Flu Initiative

Advisement from the Health Officer

We will soon enter into flu season. Influenza cases usually begin in Calvert in November with the greatest number of cases occurring in January and February. In an average year, influenza is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. (20,000-30,000 deaths) and leads to approximately 750,000 hospitalizations.

People 65 and older are most likely to die from complications of influenza. Although it is extremely important for seniors to get vaccinated, we know that the vaccine is not as fully effective as people get older. That makes it even more important for younger adults and children to get vaccinated so they are less likely to unintentionally spread the flu to their parents and grandparents.

Pregnant women are at greater risk of severe complications from influenza than non-pregnant women. These complications include severe pneumonia that could require intensive care treatment and higher chance of maternal death. Pregnant women are also at greater risk of premature delivery and resulting serious complications for their newborn infants. All health experts agree on the safety and importance of vaccination during pregnancy. Pregnant women have received influenza vaccines for decades with no harm to their babies.

Pregnant women who get vaccinated not only dramatically decrease risks to their unborn babies and themselves, but also pass their immunity to influenza to their newborns. This means that if the flu goes through the community after she delivers, her infant is much less likely to get sick. Influenza often causes dangerous illness in very young children. In a typical year, children under age 5 are second to the elderly in risk of dying from the flu.

In addition to influenza vaccination, people over age 64 and anyone with chronic lung disease, sickle cell disease, diabetes, or weakened immune system should also ask their healthcare provider about a pneumococcal vaccine. This vaccine helps prevent potentially life-threatening pneumonia from bacterial infection (different from the influenza virus).