For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa Tubbs
Putnam General Hospital will host a "Drive-Thru" Flu
Shot Clinic
for the community on
Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 8am-11am.
Please have your consent form completed before entering the hospital campus and your mask on to receive your flu shot.
To download the Flu Consent Form Click Here
Putnam General Hospital will host a "Drive-Thru" Flu shot clinic for the community on Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 8am-11am. Those participating will remain within their vehicles while being screened and vaccinated by the same process as a regular walk in clinic. Drive-thru clinics are especially important this year to contain the spread of Covid-19. Participants are required to wear masks as well as have the flu shot consent form already filled out. Consent forms are available on the PGH website www.putnamgeneral.com and in The Eatonton Messenger.
Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral respiratory infection affecting the nose, throat, and lungs that can cause mild to severe illnesses potentially resulting in hospitalization and can lead to death. In the United States, the CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9.2 million and 35.6 million illnesses, between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually since 2010. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle/body aches, runny/stuffy nose, headache, and fatigue. Complications include viral and bacterial pneumonia, ear and/or sinus infections, and worsening of existing chronic medical conditions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone 6 months of age and older, especially among at-risk populations with compromised (weakened) immune systems. Vulnerable populations susceptible to prolonged infection and influenza-related complications include adults over 65 years of age, children under five, pregnant women, and persons with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease & emphysema), heart disease (congestive heart failure & coronary artery disease), and diabetes.
Annual flu vaccination is the primary method to provide immunity against the influenza virus, lessening illness and death caused by influenza-related complications. Please keep in mind that both influenza and Covid-19 viruses cause respiratory illness. Co-infection is possible, thus, it is even more important to get a flu vaccination since preventing or minimizing flu, may help to diagnose Covid-19 infection more easily. Once a Covid-19 vaccine is available, these same drive-thru clinics will most likely be run again for vaccination against Covid-19.