The Alachua County Health Department will offer influenza vaccines for $25 beginning Tuesday and lasting throughout the fall or until the vaccines run out, though the vaccination will not prevent the H1N1 strain known as swine flu.
"I wish and hope [people] take advantage of this," said Sherry Windham, director of immunizations for the Alachua County Health Department. "It's not too early. At least try to do something to prevent [yourself from getting the flu]."
The flu vaccine can help prevent the flu for up to a year.
This is the earliest flu vaccines have been offered in Alachua County, Windham said. The vaccines normally are not available until late September or early October.
The UF Student Health Care Center will not begin offering flu shots until later in the semester, around late September or early October, according to the SHCC office.
Flu shots at the center will be $5 for students and $25 for faculty and staff.
Windham said it's never too early to get a flu shot, explaining that some people might hesitate to get the shots because they feel they should wait until flu season officially begins in October.
"We wanted to go ahead and start giving it," she said. "It can make a huge difference."
The Alachua County Health Department will offer flu shots at their walk-in clinic throughout the day, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Windham said.
In addition to the Alachua County Health Department and the Student Health Care Center, people will also be able to get flu shots from their private doctors or at Publix, Windham added.
Publix usually offers flu shots for $25, given by pharmacists at certain times and on certain days throughout October.
A spokesman for Publix did not have any additional information on the flu shots, but said information will be available later in September.
