Free Flu Vaccine Now Available at All Shelby County Public Health Clinics While Supplies Last

SHELBY COUNTY, TN – The Shelby County Health Department is offering free influenza vaccinations for children and adults at all its public health clinics throughout Shelby County effective immediately, while supplies last.

The vaccine is available at the following locations, no appointment necessary, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, unless otherwise specified:

Cawthon Public Health Clinic

1000 Haynes, 38114

Collierville Public Health Clinic (Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

167 Washington St., 38017

Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic

6590 Kirby Center Cove, 38118

Immunization Clinic

814 Jefferson, Rm. 216, 38105

Millington Public Health Clinic

8225 Highway 51 North, 38053

Packer Clinic

814 Jefferson, Room 221, 38105

Shelby Crossing Public Health Clinic

6170 Macon Road, 38133

Southland Mall Public Health Clinic

1287 Southland Mall, 38116

“Seasonal influenza activity has begun to increase in Shelby County, and incidence of flu and flu-like illness is expected to peak in January or February,” said Shelby County Health Department Director, Dr. Alisa Haushalter. “The flu vaccine is the single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from seasonal influenza, which can cause serious illness, hospitalization, and even death. Now is the best time for anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to get the shot, because it can take up to two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body to provide protection against the flu virus.”

Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for everyone six months and older, and is especially recommended for the following individuals:

• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with chronic medical conditions, including asthma and other lung diseases, heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who care for those at high risk for complications from influenza, including:
  • Health care workers;
  • Household contact of persons at high risk for complications from influenza;
  • Household contacts and caregivers of children less than six months of age.

The flu vaccine contains inactivated virus, so it cannot cause flu illness. Side effects from the vaccination are usually short-term and mild, and may include soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever, and body aches.

For more information about influenza in Shelby County, please visit our influenza activity webpage at http://www.shelbytnhealth.com/375/Flu-Activity-in-Shelby-County.