Vaccination is your best protection against the flu. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older, and is especially important for adults aged 65 and older, children younger than 2, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying conditions like asthma and chronic lung disease.
The cost of flu vaccination is typically covered by insurance, and health departments accept many health insurance plans. There are low-cost vaccination options for individuals without health insurance coverage.
2025-2026 Flu Vaccine Availability at Your Local Health Department
The health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties are now offering the updated 2025-2026 flu vaccine. Supplies are limited in some locations, so call your local health department to confirm availability and schedule an appointment.
More Information about Flu Vaccination
Some things to know about the flu vaccine:
It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the immune system to fully respond to the vaccine and provide the body protection.
Children 6 months through 8 years old who getting vaccinated for the first time will need two doses of the vaccine.
The flu vaccine might cause some mild side effects such as low grade fever, aches, or redness/swelling where the shot was given but it cannot cause the flu.
Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at increased risk for severe illness and complications from influenza, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, and people 65 years of age and older.
Flu viruses generally circulate from late fall to early spring, but can last into late spring. September and October are good times to get vaccinated, but you can get vaccinated anytime during flu season.
COVID vaccines and the flu vaccine can be given at the same time.
Everyday Actions to Prevent Flu While getting the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu, there are other things we can all do every day to prevent getting or spreading the flu viruses and other viruses.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Try to cough or sneeze into the corner of your elbow and not your hand or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.