Flu season begins in South Carolina

MORNING HEADLINES | With the summer officially in the rear-view mirror, health officials are urging residents across the state to protect themselves and their communities by getting an annual flu shot.

The first day of October represents the start of the flu season in the United States with peak activity coming between December and February. The S.C. Department of Public Health (DPH) says the annual jab remains the best defense against infection and severe illness. Officials recommend everyone from 6 months old and up who is eligible should receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to build immunity, health leaders said. As such, the sooner people get the shot, the lower the chance of getting sick and a viral outbreak will ramp up across the state. Other core preventive measures include:

Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
Covering coughs and sneezes with tissue or the inside of your elbow; and
Staying home and isolating when you feel sick.

Flu-related complications kill an average of 250 South Carolinians every year, including children, according to DPH statistics.

Flu vaccines are widely available at local pharmacies, primary care clinics and health care providers across the state. No-cost flu shots are also available through several DPH clinics for those whose insurance doesn’t cover the vaccination. Residents can check eligibility by calling DPH’s Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 or by utilizing DPH’s online vaccine finder tool.

DPH tracks state-level influenza data year-round and publishes updated surveillance data every Wednesday through its Flu Watch report, which is available on the DPH website.

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In today’s issue of the Charleston City Paper

CP OPINION: The travesty of an Eastside church’s demolition. “It’s hard not to see a conspiracy of private greed and municipal culpability when you stare at the obscene pile of junk that materialized like a developer’s middle finger at the Cooper Street site where a venerable Black church stood proudly for more than 130 years.”

CP CARTOON: Stegelin: National Insecurity
CP CARTOON: Ariail: Just quoting him

CP COVER STORY: Charleston restaurants, bars get inventive with the classic hamburger. Charleston is spoiled when it comes to great burgers. Just look at the Fig Lebowski, this year’s winner in the Charleston City Paper’s annual Burger Throwdown in the most creative and innovative burger category.

CP NEWS: AI data center fights spread from counties to campaign trail. A broad grassroots backlash against artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is gaining momentum across the Palmetto State, with six counties imposing moratoriums in the month of September alone.

CP NEWS: New nonprofit seeks to bridge gaps in Charleston area health care. Be Well Circle, a Charleston startup nonprofit, wants to help people afford holistic health care, from mental health support to nutrition and energy healing, that insurance may not cover.

CP FOOD: Cheeky brings seafood to the historic district. Cheeky opened this week at 123 Meeting St., offering a new seafood option in downtown Charleston.

CP MUSIC: Eddie 9V teases gritty new album at Oct. 16 show. Atlanta musician Brooks Mason, better known as Eddie 9V, is having quite a moment now. His new album, his fifth, is probably the best distillation of his sound yet.

In recent headlines

2026: Andrews outspending, outraising Graham in S.C. U.S. Senate race. Democratic nominee Annie Andrews is outspending sitting U.S. Sen. Darline Graham in their race for the U.S. Senate. Polls across South Carolina show them tied at a time the GOP is weak. But to many, she’s still the underdog.

Lowcountry’s vulnerable adults falling through the cracks, report finds. An investigative team spent months examining a decade of abuse cases in the Lowcountry and found the system meant to hold abusers accountable is falling short.

Mount Pleasant vet program helps students gain experience. Mount Pleasant’s Lucy Beckham High School’s veterinary science curriculum allows high schoolers to work directly with animals while learning skills in animal care, shelter operations and veterinary basics.

‘American Pickers’ coming to S.C. If you have an interesting antique collection, you could end up on the reality show “American Pickers” when they visit South Carolina in November.

CALENDAR: How to find cool things to do around town

Our online events calendar has scores of events around the Lowcountry every day, making it the most detailed calendar of what’s happening in the area. Just click on “Events” above at right under the black toolbar. You’ll be amazed at what you find.