Williamson County Health, TX

September 30, 2020 – With flu season just around the corner, Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) urges everyone 6 months old and older to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their family from getting the flu. 

Efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, have led to decreased use of routine preventive medical services, including immunization services. Ensuring that people continue or start getting routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for protecting communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks, including flu.  

Who Should Get the Flu Shot?
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older, with rare exceptions, because it is an effective way to decrease flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. 

• Essential workers: Including healthcare personnel (including nursing home, long-term care facility, and pharmacy staff) and other critical infrastructure workforce. 
• Persons at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19: Including adults aged 65 years and older, residents in a nursing home or long-term care facility, and persons of all ages with chronic disease and certain underlying medical conditions.  
• Persons at increased risk for serious influenza complications: Including infants and young children, children with neurologic conditions, pregnant women, adults aged 65 years and older, and other persons with chronic disease and certain underlying medical conditions. 

Take precautions to reduce your chance of getting the flu this season by getting vaccinated in the fall, washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home if you’re sick. Influenza circulates heavily in Central Texas from typically September through April each year.  

Flu information and a vaccine finder are available at TexasFlu.org. 

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