The Henderson County Health Department will offer a seasonal flu vaccine to the general public Wednesday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College.

The clinic will be held at the Thomas Auditorium in the Sink Building, 130 Eagles Reach Drive, Flat Rock. Signage will be set up to direct students and the general public to the location.

Only the flu injection (shot) will be offered. COVID-19 testing will not be provided at this clinic.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year by the end of October. This clinic is open to students, their families and the general public. Those who are immunocompromised or over the age of 65 may call the Health Department to schedule a vaccine appointment.

Anyone who has fever, cough, sore throat or is otherwise unwell will not be vaccinated and should not enter the building.

Insurance companies in-network with the Health Department are listed at www.HendersonCountyFlu.org. The vaccine at this event is available at no cost for those who are uninsured.

In North Carolina, flu infections are most common from late fall to early spring with activity usually peaking in January or February. Flu vaccines can make illness milder and reduce the risk of more serious outcomes. It’s important to protect those in the community at high risk of complicated or severe flu infections such as children, pregnant women, seniors and those with medical conditions such as asthma, COPD and diabetes.

The flu strains in the vaccine are new this year. While this should offer better protection, it also may cause more side effects such as a sore arm, low-grade temperature or fatigue. This is an immune response to the flu vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any live virus so people cannot be infected by it.

Visit www.HendersonCountyFlu.org for more information about this flu season and to download, print and fill out a consent form that will be required for the vaccination event.