FOR RELEASE: September 19, 2024 For more information contact: Lisa Quillman, Director of Nursing and Family Services 618-684-3143 Respiratory Virus Season is Upon Us Jackson County Health Department (JCHD) has the available tools to help protect yourself and your family during this winter’s respiratory virus season. Flu Vaccinations Available at Jackson County Health Department Jackson County Health Department is now providing flu vaccinations by appointment.

An annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age. Getting a flu shot not only protects you during the upcoming flu season, but it also reduces the spread of flu to others. The annual flu season typically runs from October through May.

It takes up to two weeks for protection to develop after the vaccination. High dose flu vaccine is available for those age 65 years and older. An egg free vaccine is available to those with a known egg allergy. Flu Mist (a needleless flu vaccine) is available for children age 2-18.

Regular vaccine is available for all other individuals. Flu vaccination is free for anyone with Medicare B, Medicaid, State employees, and State retirees upon presentation of their insurance cards.

JCHD also accepts most types of health insurance, so please bring your insurance card at the time of service.

Vaccination fees can also be paid by cash, check, debit or credit card.

Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Available at Jackson County Health Department Jackson County Health Department is now offering the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines. CDC recommends everyone age 6 months or older receive the updated vaccine. Updated Covid vaccines more closely target a current strain of the virus which causes COVID-19. JCHD has both Pfizer and Moderna brands for those age 12 years or older and Pfizer brand for those under age 12. Children ages 6 months-4 years may need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, including at least one dose of updated vaccine, depending on the number of doses they’ve previously received. It is especially important to get your 2024-2025 Covid-19 vaccine if you are age 65 years or older, due to being at a higher risk for severe Covid-19. If you were recently ill with Covid, you should wait 3 months before getting your 2024-2025 Covid vaccine. If you recently received the 2023-2024 Covid vaccine, you should wait 2 months before receiving the new 2024-2025 Covid vaccine. JCHD is providing COVID-19 vaccines to eligible children under the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, those who have private pay insurance, Medicare, and to persons who are uninsured or underinsured under the 317 program. RSV Vaccines Available at Jackson County Health Department JCHD is also administering RSV vaccine (Arexvy and Abysvo) for those age 60-74 years or older with certain health conditions. Those age 75 and up automatically qualify. This is a one-time vaccine. Maternal RSV vaccine is available as well for women who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant during September through January. This vaccine is important because you will pass the protection to your baby. Protection will last during your baby’s first 6 months, while they are at highest risk of severe RSV. An RSV antibody (nirsevimab) is available and recommended for all babies younger than 8 months of age born to mothers who did not receive a maternal RSV vaccine during pregnancy. A nirsevimab dose should be given to babies shortly before the RSV season, or within 1 week after birth if born during October to March. Children age 8-19 months also qualify if they are at increased risk for severe RSV. JCHD is providing RSV vaccines to eligible individuals, those who have private pay insurance, Medicare, and to uninsured or underinsured persons under the 317 program, and to children under the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. You may receive multiple doses at once. (For example, Covid and flu vaccine on the same day.) However, JCHD encourages doing only two doses at a time due to an increased immune response. Vaccination appointments are available Mon-Fri from 8:30am-3:30pm, with additional hours until 5:30pm on Tuesdays. Appointments are required and can be made at www.jchdonline.org or by calling 618-684-3143 ext. 150. Most health insurance plans are accepted, as well as Medicare