MILTON — Cooler weather and shorter days mark the transition from summer to fall — and they’re signs that flu season is here.
This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only recommends people get injectable flu shots. Nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for this flu season because of concerns about its effectiveness.
The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County offers the flu vaccine as follows:
•Milton Clinic, 8–11:30 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, 5527 Stewart St., Milton
•Midway Clinic:8–11:30 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m.Tuesdays, 5840 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze
•Jay Clinic:9 a.m. to noon, first Wednesday of the month, 14122 Alabama St., Jay
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six months and older, including pregnant women. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop protection against the flu, so experts recommend getting the shot before Halloween.
Medicare covers the $32 vaccination fee, for those who are eligible; so do some other types of insurance. A limited amount of vaccine is available at no fee for children ages 6 months through 18 years through the Vaccines for Children Program. Parents should contact the clinic at 983-5200 to confirm vaccine availability.
Flu strains change from year to year so it is important to get the flu shot this year even if you got one last year, according to the Florida Department of Health.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 places to get the flu shot in Santa Rosa County