Don’t Let the Flu Get You

The Wellness Coalition has been partnering with organizations to provide flu vaccination information to communities in Macon, Montgomery, and Lowndes counties. The best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is by getting a yearly flu vaccine. Even when flu vaccination does not prevent illness entirely, it has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions.

Use the interactive map below to find local flu vaccination sites. Make sure to call and check availability.

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    Flu News, Updates & Stories

    About Flu Season

    While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses typically circulate during the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October. The figure below shows peak flu activity in the United States by month for the 1982-1983 through 2021-2022 flu seasons.

    The “peak month of flu activity” is the month with the highest percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza virus infection during that flu season.

    During this 40-year period, flu activity most often peaked in February (17 seasons), followed by December (7 seasons), January (6 seasons) and March (6 seasons).

    Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May. Since the start of the COVID pandemic, the timing and duration of flu activity has been less predictable.

    Benefits of Flu Vaccination

    Influenza (flu) is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and flu can affect people differently. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against flu illness. Flu vaccinations:

    • Prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year

    • Has been shown to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick

    • Can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization

    • Has been shown to be associated with reduced hospitalizations from a worsening of chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease

    • Helps protect pregnant people from flu during and after pregnancy and helps protect their infants from flu in their first few months of life

    • Can be lifesaving in children

    Who Is At Increased Risk of Flu Complications

    People Most at Risk

    According to the CDC, the following groups of people may experience greater complications from having the flu:

    • Adults 65 and older
    • Pregnant women
    • People with heart disease
    • Someone who suffered a stroke
    • Those who are asthmatic
    • Those who are obese
    • People with neurological and/or
      neurodevelopmental conditions
    • Those with weak immune systems, such as
      people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or leukemia

    Serious Symptoms

    You should go to the emergency room if you have the flu
    and experience any of the following symptoms:

    • Difficulty breathing
    • Persistent pain in the chest or abdomen
    • Persistent dizziness and confusion
    • Seizures
    • Severe weakness
    • Fever or cough that returns or worsens
    • Other medical conditions that worsen
    • Severely reduced urination
    • Protecting yourself from the flu could save you from
      the complications leading to hospitalizations.

    People Most at Risk

    According to the CDC, the following groups of people may experience greater complications from having the flu:

    • Adults 65 and older
    • Pregnant women
    • People with heart disease
    • Someone who suffered a stroke
    • Those who are asthmatic
    • Those who are obese
    • People with neurological and/or
      neurodevelopmental conditions
    • Those with weak immune systems, such as
      people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or leukemia

    Serious Symptoms

    You should go to the emergency room if you have the flu
    and experience any of the following symptoms:

    • Difficulty breathing
    • Persistent pain in the chest or abdomen
    • Persistent dizziness and confusion
    • Seizures
    • Severe weakness
    • Fever or cough that returns or worsens
    • Other medical conditions that worsen
    • Severely reduced urination
    • Protecting yourself from the flu could save you from
      the complications leading to hospitalizations.

    Flu Versus COVID-19

    Although they have similar symptoms, influenza and COVID-19 are not the same, but they are both respiratory illnesses that are serious. Here are some important facts:

    They Are Different

    Both flu and COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, it takes longer for someone who has COVID-19 to present their symptoms.

    You Can Have Both

    Someone can have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, which is one reason anyone over six months of age should get vaccinated for the flu.

    COVID-19 Vaccine

    The COVID-19 vaccine is not the same as the flu vaccine. Learn more on our COVID-19 page.

    Flu Vaccines Are Safe

    The flu vaccination does not increase your chances of getting COVID-19.

    Made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.