Have a Healthy New Year Rowan
We’re already well into the first month of 2021, and the COVID-19 vaccine has become available to the much awaited delight of our community. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human services states that the two vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are well-tested, safe, and effective against the novel coronavirus. Supplies are still extremely limited as of January 2021 and there has been high demand. Health departments and hospitals are doing their best to manage supply versus demand, and getting vaccines out at an expeditious speed.
In the meantime, there are many other things you can do to protect your health! Whereas our focus has been so much on COVID-19, we may not be thinking of the other ways we normally get sick during the winter season. Preventing unnecessary disease and sickness is essential for businesses, schools, and communities to stay ahead of adding to the burden of our hospitals at the moment. Flu viruses can cause mild to severe illness. We also now know that you can test positive for both the flu and COVID-19.
I sat down with Dr. Amy Wilson, the Medical provider at the Community Care Clinic of Rowan County, our local free clinic that provides primary care, dental, and pharmacy services for individuals without insurance, to discuss vaccines and specifically the flu vaccine. Dr. Wilson also serves as the physician advisor on the Rowan County Public Health’s Board of Health.
Check out the video below for information on flu vaccines:
HERE is a list Rowan County Health Department put together to make it easier for you to find where you can get a flu vaccine.
We encourage everyone to get a flu vaccine because it helps protect you and those around you. It also can lessen the severity if you do end up getting the flu. It’s available in nearly every pharmacy, doctor’s office, and even curbside. Plus, you can often get it at little to no cost. Don’t wait. Get your flu vaccine!
Stay healthy!
Alyssa Harris
Community Health Manager
Rowan County Health Department
