Not too late to get a flu shot from health department

Once again, Georgia is being featured in the public health news but not for a good reason.

Georgia is one of the top five states last week with the highest rates of people going to doctors with flu symptoms.

And for Georgia emergency visits, flu has seven times more visits than COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

You probably know Rabun County residents who are suffering from flu symptoms, and others are too.

Additionally, a Health Advisory was just released about the avian flu (A[H5N1]) infecting a person from exposure to backyard poultry or wild birds – both of which we have plenty of around here.

So, if you have flu symptoms – fever, cough and/or sore throat – see your primary care provider, there is treatment if it is flu.

But it’s also not too late to get your flu shot. The Rabun County Health Department, 184 S. Main St, Clayton still has plenty of flu vaccines for children, adults, and seniors.

Be safe, get the shot and not get sick!

Susan T. Cookson is a MD, MPH, FACP, CAPT US PHS (Ret.).