Carolyn Sergeant was the charge nurse for the day with her team of nurses from the Alabama Department of Public Health based in Montgomery. Sergeant said the nurses are from public health Area 8, where they travel around to six or seven counties giving flu vaccinations.

“Getting the flu vaccine is very important and they are good for an entire year,” Sergeant said. “We are in the midst of flu season with some cases of the flu reported last month.”

Sergeant informed each patient stopping by her station for the flu vaccine to avoid coming into contact with someone who might have the virus.

Sergeant said the flu vaccination takes two weeks to become completely effective and protects from three strains of the main influenza virus.

“A lot of people think that if they get the flu vaccine they will not contract the flu virus,” Sergeant said. “You can still catch certain strains of the flu because there are many of them that develop but the vaccine does protect you from the three strongest strains.”

Sergeant said even though people are susceptible to the flu virus throughout the year, most people contract the flu in the fall and winter seasons.

“One of the best ways to prevent catching the virus is to wash your hands,” Sergeant said. “Get the flu shot and wash your hands.”