Free Flu Vaccinations This Week For Chattanooga Residents
Chattanooga, TN – Hamilton County Health Department and CHI Memorial report that because Covid-19 and flu symptoms are so similar getting a flu shot this year can can help you determine if you have Covid-19.
“You’ve got your fever, shortness of breath, headache, running/stuffy nose -the biggest difference is still that loss of taste or loss of smell when you’re looking at Covid” stated Sharon Goforth of the Hamilton County Health Department.
“Any illness we can prevent will cause fewer cases in which we have to try to figure out what’s going on” said Dr. Mark Anderson of CHI Memorial.
Goforth says it’s certainly possible to contract both viruses, “Obviously you don’t want that to happen. It’s an automatic double whammy on your system especially if you’re in one of our high risk groups.”
Dr. Anderson says those high risk groups include older adults and people with chronic diseases, “Unfortunately, those people who need it the most tend to respond least well to the vaccine. We still recommend vaccines for those people but we have started giving it that are most likely to transmit influenza to those vulnerable. The two big groups are children and health care providers.”
This week (October 12 – 16), the Hamilton County Health Department is offering free flu shots in a drive-thru event.
The event is taking place in the same location that COVID-19 tests are administered.
Alstom Plant
1125 Riverfront Parkway
Chattanooga, TN 37402
For adults, 18 years and older, COVID-19 tests will be administered during the morning and flu vaccinations in the afternoon, from 1:30 – 5:00PM.
No appointments are necessary but masks are required.
Free Flu vaccines are also available for children (6 months through 17 years) at two other clinics but appointments are required.
Sequoyah Health Center (209-5490)
9527 W Ridge Trail Rd
Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379
Pediatric Clinic (209-8050)
921 E 3rd Street
Chattanooga, TN 37403
