NHC Health Dept. to offer flu shots soon | Events

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) — Flu shots will be available from the New Hanover County Health Department beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 18, and residency is not required.

Appointments are available from 8:15 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 8:14 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. on Fridays, according to a news release from a county spokesperson. The goal of the Health Department is to provide the flu vaccinations in 20 minutes or less.

Additionally, if you're part of a church or civic group of 20 people or more, the health department can offer the vaccine at your location. For more information on group vaccines, call 910-798-6529.

If you have mobility issues, the health department also offers to provide the vaccine to you from the comfort of your own car.

The following forms of payment will be accepted:

• Medicare/Medicaid
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina
• United Health Care
• Aetna
• Cigna
• Tricare
• Health Choice
• Cash
• Check
• Visa/Mastercard

Here are some suggestions to help protect yourself from the flu:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• If you don’t have tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.  Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• Wash your hands often 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.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

To make an appointment, call 910-798-6646.

Also, it is being recommended that adult smokers 19 years of age of older receive Pneumovax, which is a pneumonia shot, as they are at a heightened risk for respiratory infection.

Pneumovax vaccines should be spread out by five years, and only two should be received in your lifetime.

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