CareSouth Carolina Now Offering Flu Vaccines Throughout the Pee Dee

CareSouth Carolina is now administering seasonal flu vaccines at its offices throughout the Pee Dee, giving patients and families a convenient way to prepare for the upcoming flu season.

Appointments are now available. Patients can call 843-309-8301 to schedule their flu vaccine at a CareSouth Carolina location.

Flu season can bring increased illness, missed days from work and school, doctor visits and, in more serious cases, hospitalization. Getting vaccinated each year remains one of the most important steps people can take to reduce their risk of influenza and its potentially serious complications.

“Getting your flu vaccine is a simple step that can make a real difference for you, your family and our entire community,” said Jeri Andrews, Chief Medical Officer at CareSouth Carolina. “We want to make it as convenient as possible for people throughout the Pee Dee to get vaccinated and head into flu season with an added layer of protection.”

Why Getting a Flu Vaccine Matters

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions.

September and October are generally considered good times for most people to receive their flu vaccine. Because it takes approximately two weeks after vaccination for the body to develop antibodies that help protect against influenza, getting vaccinated before flu activity increases can give the body time to build protection.

The flu vaccine cannot guarantee that someone will avoid influenza completely, but vaccination can reduce the risk of becoming sick. It can also reduce the severity of illness and lower the risk of flu-related hospitalization and death.

The CDC estimates that the 2024–2025 flu season resulted in approximately 51 million illnesses, 23 million medical visits, 710,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 deaths nationwide. The CDC classified it as the first high-severity flu season in the United States since 2017–2018.

Flu vaccination can be especially important for people who face a higher risk of serious complications, including young children, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain chronic medical conditions.

South Carolina public health officials also identify influenza vaccination as one of the best ways to help prevent hospitalization and death associated with the flu.

Protecting More Than Yourself

Getting vaccinated can also help protect the people around you. That can be particularly important for family members, friends and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.

Flu viruses change over time, which is one reason a flu vaccine is recommended every year. Vaccine formulations are reviewed and updated to provide protection against influenza viruses expected to circulate during the upcoming season.

CareSouth Carolina encourages residents not to wait until flu activity increases to begin thinking about vaccination.

Schedule Your Flu Vaccine Today

To schedule an appointment, call 843-309-8301.

Patients with questions about whether a flu vaccine is appropriate for them should speak with their healthcare provider.

CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community health center delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill.

Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, women's services, OB/GYN, HIV/AIDS primary care, infectious disease primary care, IV therapy, substance abuse prevention, dental, chiropractic services, pharmacy, senior support services, family support services, clinical counseling, laboratory, ultrasound, X-Ray, agricultural worker health services, podiatry, and veterans choice provider