Now that fall is officially here, it means that flu season is right around the corner.

The Chilton County Health Department has flu shots available as a way to combat being diagnosed with the sickness.

According to clinic coordinator Ludean Hicks, the shots are a popular option for many people in Chilton County and throughout the nation.

The flu shot can be beneficial for anybody six months of age and older, although children and senior citizens are the two groups that the health department encourages to get the shot.

“School kids and older adults are more at risk,” Hicks said.

The Chilton County Health Department’s office is located at 301 Health Center Drive in Clanton.

Other facilities, such as pharmacies, will also be offering flu vaccinations, and Chilton Urgent Care is doing its part to help local businesses and their employees.

Each year around this time, businesses can contact Chilton Urgent Care and set up a clinic on site for their employees to benefit from.

In this scenario, the clinic comes to the employees instead of the other way around.

However, businesses still have the option of their employees coming to Chilton Urgent Care’s location at 1210 Seventh Street South, next to Chilton County High School in Clanton.

According to Ginny Hughes, office manager at Chilton Urgent Care, the clinics benefit both the business and its employees because employees are likely to be at work instead of at home in bed sick.

Different strands of the flu make up the flu shots each year, and it varies depending on the projected cases for the upcoming season.