Flu Prevention
The Health Department encourages people of all ages to get a seasonal flu shot from a healthcare provider, local pharmacy, retailer or big box store. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school (even virtual school) due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.
The Howard County Health Department will update the list below with upcoming community flu clinics. The annual flu vaccine is also available from most local healthcare providers, pharmacies, urgent care centers and many large retail locations. Note: The Health Department only stocks the Flulaval Quadrivalent flu vaccine, approved for all individuals ages 6 months and older. HCHD DOES NOT carry the high-dose flu vaccine.
If enrolled in Medicare, please have your Medicare number available when attending any HCHD flu vaccination clinic. There will be no charge to you, and by allowing HCHD to recover a portion of the vaccination cost from Medicare you help us extend our services to even more community members to keep Howard County healthy.
| Flu Vaccine Clinic Location | Date & Time | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Howard County Health Department 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045 |
STANDING CLINIC Monday - Friday |
Walk-ins Welcome No registration required Call 410-313-7500 to confirm availability |
*When registering for an appointment at a combined flu/COVID vaccine clinic, the first set of questions that come up are for COVID-19 shots. You will need to answer all of COVID-19 questions before moving on to the next page. The system does not allow you to skip the COVID-19 questions when the clinic is both COVID-19 and flu. Once you answer those questions then you can select flu as the vaccine you want to receive and can continue signing up for an appointment.
Are you a senior who needs a ride to your flu shot? Neighbor Ride provides a FREE ride to your chosen provider. For more information, visit neighborride.org/freeride or call 410-884-RIDE (7433)
Information about high dose flu vaccine
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has changed their guidance about flu shots for people 65 and over for the 22-23 Flu Season. It is now recommended that people over 65 get vaccinated with a high dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine if they are available. These types of vaccine have been shown to produce stronger immune responses in this age group. (Flu vaccines brands in this group include Fluzone High-Dose, Flublok, and Fluad.) If the high-dose flu vaccine is not available, ACIP still recommends that all people over 6 months old should get any accessible brand of quadrivalent flu vaccine.
Howard County Health Department does not offer high-dose (or adjuvanted flu vaccines) at our clinics as vaccine was purchased well before the ACIP recommendation. We will plan on having this next flu season. We encourage community members over the age of 65 to ask their doctor or pharmacist about getting a high-dose flu vaccine for the best protection this flu season. You can locate area flu vaccination sites that carry a high dose flu vaccine using Vaccines.gov.
Flu prevention tips:
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands. (Or cough or sneeze into the bend in your elbow.)
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.
More information:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.
- If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from getting sick. People with the flu should stay away from others for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-lowering medicine.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Make sure to put used tissues in the trash after one use.
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also work.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose. Germs spread this way.
- Get plenty of sleep, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two. Click HERE to view the CDC Flu vs. COVID-19 page
Yes. It is possible have flu, as well as other respiratory illnesses, and COVID-19 at the same time. Health experts are still studying how common this can be.
Some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, making it hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Diagnostic testing can help determine if you are sick with flu or COVID-19.
According to the CDC, individuals do not need to wait between COVID-19 and flu vaccines. It's safe and convenient to get both at the same time. For more information, click here.