Flu shot stock photo
Photo: Joe Raedle, Getty Images

After much back and forth, the vaccine recommendations for this year have been decided. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week signed off on the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendation. The committee removed a blanket recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination in those 65 and older, and suggests consulting with medical professionals in vaccine decisions. The panel also especially recommended the vaccine for those with underlying conditions. However, a prescription or doctor's approval is not required for the vaccine. 

COVID-19 vaccinations are not yet available at the Williamson County Health Department, so Williamson County residents will have to visit their local drug stores to get the shot. Walgreens and CVS allow online scheduling without any disclosure of underlying conditions. The latest edition of the vaccine is formulated to protect against the most recent strain of COVID-19. 

“The CDC recommends a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults ages 18 and older. Parents of children ages 6 months to 17 years should discuss the benefits of vaccination with a healthcare provider,” according to the CDC website. “It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.” 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center vaccine expert William Schaffner told Williamson Scene sister publication Nashville Scene that while vaccination is especially important in some cases, it benefits all. 

The yearly flu vaccine recommendations are a bit more straightforward, however. The Tennessee Department of Health recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get a flu vaccination every year. They are $20 at the Williamson County Health Department, and are offered on a sliding scale based on income and family size. 

Each of the state’s public health departments is hosting a free flu shot day on Oct. 21. Free shots will be offered at the Williamson County Health Department, located at 1324 West Main St. in Franklin, as well as the Williamson County Parks and Recreation site at 7250 Nolensville Road in Nolensville. 

Tennessee has seen a decline in vaccination rates for kindergarten students in the past several years, following the vaccine hesitancy stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2024-25 school year, 90.5 percent of Williamson County students were fully vaccinated, a decrease from 91.8 percent in the school year prior. The vaccination rates in Williamson County fall below the CDC-recommended rate of at or above 95 percent to prevent disease outbreaks such as measles, as well as the state average of 92.3 percent.