Metro Public Health Department officials announced they will begin offering flu vaccine October 2 at all three Health Department's locations.

Flu shots will be offered Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Health Department's East Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane; Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Avenue; and the new Lentz Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue.

The fee for flu vaccine is $25 for adults with private insurance, and a sliding scale is available if needed. TennCare and Medicare Part B insurance are accepted and fully cover the $25 fee (please remember to bring your Medicare Part B insurance card). The flu vaccine is free for children and adults without health insurance.

Flu vaccine offers the best protection against influenza. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials say it is not too early to get a flu shot. According to CDC, everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine each year.

The Metro Public Health Department will not offer the "nasal spray" flu vaccine this year following the CDC's announcement that the nasal spray vaccine should not be used during the 2017-2018 flu season.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it's especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:

• Pregnant women
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
• Health care workers
• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

For more information about flu shots, please call 615/340-5616 option 8, or visit the Health Department's website at health.nashville.gov.