Vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu. Flu viruses change and new strains of flu often appear. Flu vaccine is made to protect against the strains of flu most likely to make people sick each year. This is why flu vaccine must be repeated every year. It takes a couple of weeks to get protection from the vaccine. For most people, September and October are good times to get vaccinated, before flu viruses start to spread.

You can also follow these practices to prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, rub hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Throw the tissue away promptly and wash hands. Masks can provide additional protection. They limit the spread of germs from people who are infected. They also help keep people wearing them from breathing in germs from others around them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can spread on your hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay away from others if you are sick. Stay home, at least for 24 hours until you are feeling better and are fever free without the use of fever reducing medicines.
   

Wake County Public Health encourages everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated against the flu – especially people at higher risk of complications if they get the flu.

There are some people who should not get flu vaccine and others who should talk with their healthcare provider first. Check with your vaccine provider to learn what time you can use or if you cannot get the vaccine.

Flu vaccine is available in a shot and nasal spray (approved for people 2 thru 49 years of age). All flu vaccines for the 2024–25 flu season are designed to protect against 3 flu viruses (trivalent).

Not everyone can get the same kind of vaccine and some people cannot get flu vaccine. Check with your vaccine provider to learn what type you can use or if you cannot get the vaccine.

You can get the flu vaccine at:

• Your health care provider
• Many pharmacies
• Urgent Cares
• Some grocery stores and churches.
• Other community flu shot locations near you: Vaccine Finder
   

Regular flu vaccine – The cost for regular flu vaccine is $30.

High dose flu vaccine – The cost of high-dose flu vaccine is $60.

You will be asked to pay when you get your flu vaccine. Wake County Health & Human Services accepts:

• Cash
• Checks
• Medicare part B (bring your card with you)
• NC Medicaid (bring your card with you)
• Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care and Cigna (bring your card with you)
• North Carolina Health Choice (bring your card with you)
   

There is no charge for flu vaccine this year for:

• Pregnant women without health insurance
• Children who qualify for the federal government's Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
   

To qualify for vaccine under the VFC program, children must be under 19 years of age AND one of the following:

• Uninsured or underinsured
• Medicaid eligible
• American Indian or Alaskan Native
   

• Stay home when sick. Do not go to work, to school or run errands when you are sick. Keep children home from school and daycare when they are sick.
• Stay away from others as much as possible.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Throw the used tissue away and wash your hands.
• Wearing a mask helps keep flu virus from spreading to others.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after sneezing or coughing. If soap and water are not available, rub hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• DO go to the doctor if you need to.
   

Flu antiviral drugs are medications that fight the flu virus. They are prescribed by a doctor and are most effective if you take them within 2 days after your flu symptoms start. Antiviral drugs are not the same as antibiotics. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics don’t help treat infections like flu that are caused by viruses.