Volusia County, FL - The Volusia County Department of Health (DOH) is warning residents that flu activity is on the rise, and the DOH is offering flu vaccines for those who need them.
There are still weeks of flu season ahead, and the DOH is urging residents to get flu shots if they have not already gotten them. Vaccines are offered from 8 AM until 5 PM Monday through Friday at all Volusia DOH locations:
- 1845 Holsonback Dr., Daytona Beach.
- 775 Harley Strickland Blvd., Orange City.
- 717 W. Canal St., New Smyrna Beach.
Appointments are not required, and officials say the flu vaccine is safe and recommended for everyone six months and older, including pregnant women.
Even though the flu vaccines vary in effectiveness from season to season, they are still the best way to avoid getting the flu. To locate a flu shot provider at other locations near you, contact your health care provider or use DOH’s flu shot locator:
www.flhealth.gov/findaflushot.
The DOH says that treatment is most effective when it is started within 48 hours of symptoms. If you start to feel flu-like symptoms coming on, you are urged to call your doctor as soon as possible so you can be prescribed an antiviral treatment if necessary. Children under five years old, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for flu complications.
Officials remind everyone to stay home from work or school if you are sick and practice good hygiene by properly and frequently washing your hands. You can prevent the flu by avoiding touching your face and by coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
Visit
www.floridahealth.gov/floridaflu for more information on influenza and influenza-like illness in Florida.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.
