🩺 Flu Is Stirring, Free Shots Are Tuesday and the Clocks Fall Back in Two Weeks: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: A Fresh CDC Flu Update, Every Free Fight Flu Site Near the Valley, Free Mammograms Through Your Health Department, Easy Sleep Tips for Nov. 1 and Help for Rural Clinicians

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Sunday, October 18, 2026

A quiet Sunday is a good day to check the woodpile. You don’t need a fire tonight, but you’ll be glad the wood is split and stacked when the first real cold snap rolls in. This week’s health news is a lot like that: nothing to fret over, just a few easy things to get ready before you need them.

Here’s what’s in today’s report. The CDC’s newest flu report says flu is still low but climbing, including in our part of the country, which makes Tuesday’s free Fight Flu TN shots right on time. We’ve gathered every nearby free flu site and its hours in one place. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so we explain how the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program offers free screenings at every county health department for women who qualify. Clocks fall back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 1, and sleep doctors have simple tips to make it painless. And for the nurses, dentists and counselors among our readers, Tennessee’s rural loan repayment program is taking applications through Dec. 12.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Free flu shots Tuesday, Oct. 20: Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central. Ages 6 months and up. No appointment, no insurance needed.
• Flu check-in: CDC says flu is low but rising. Most people should get vaccinated in September or October, so this week is ideal.
• Free breast and cervical screenings: Available at every county health department for Tennessee women 40 and up who meet income and insurance rules. Questions: 1-877-969-6636.
• Clocks fall back Sunday, Nov. 1: Set them back one hour Saturday night, keep your usual wake-up time and get some morning sun.
• Rural clinicians: Tennessee’s State Loan Repayment Program is open through Dec. 12.

🤧 Flu Update: Still Low, Slowly Climbing, and Tuesday’s Shots Are Right on Time

This is an update to what we shared Friday. The CDC’s newest weekly flu report, posted Oct. 16 and covering the week ending Oct. 10, says seasonal flu is increasing in many parts of the country but remains low. The share of lab tests coming back positive for flu rose to about 5%, up from about 3.9% the week before. The CDC says that rise showed up nationally and in HHS Region 4, the Southeast region that includes Tennessee. The busiest flu activity right now is on the West Coast.

The CDC also says early-season flu is running higher than usual for this time of year but still within normal seasonal ups and downs, and that for most people, flu shots are ideally given in September or October. If you do get sick, the CDC notes there are prescription flu medicines that work best when started early, especially for people at higher risk.

That’s why Tuesday matters. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Tennessee health departments are giving free flu shots to anyone 6 months and older for Fight Flu TN. Here are the sites closest to the Valley, from the Southeast Region and Hamilton County health departments:

• Sequatchie County: Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave., Dunlap (behind the Erlanger Sequatchie Valley emergency center), 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Central.
• Bledsoe County: Health Department, 334 Frazier Ave., Pikeville, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–3:30 p.m. Central.
• Marion County: Health Department, 24 East 7th St., Jasper, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central.
• Grundy County: Health Department, 278 N. Industrial Park Road, Coalmont, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Central.
• Rhea County: Health Department, 344 Eagle Lane, Evensville, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastern.
• Hamilton County: J.A. Henry Community YMCA, 3500 Dodds Ave. #108, Chattanooga, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; and the health department’s mobile unit at The Samaritan Center, 9231 Lee Hwy., Ooltewah, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (Chattanooga time).
• Van Buren County and everywhere else: Use the Fight Flu TN location map at tn.gov/health/fightflu to find your closest site and hours.

What it means for you: Think of the flu shot like putting up storm windows. You do it while the weather is still mild, not after the wind is already howling. At home, it protects the grandkids and the folks you sit beside at church. At work, it can mean fewer sick days. If you run a business, a quick word to your crew about Tuesday’s free shots costs nothing. Hamilton County says its free shots are only free that day, while supplies last, so going earlier in the day is a good plan anywhere.

👉 Read more (CDC FluView: Week 40 update) · Southeast Region Fight Flu sites and hours · Hamilton County sites

🎀 Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Free Screenings Are as Close as Your Health Department

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the best news is about where to go. The Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program (TBCSP), run by the Tennessee Department of Health with support from the CDC, provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and limited follow-up testing for low-income women who are uninsured or underinsured. The state says these services are available at every county health department in Tennessee, which includes Dunlap, Pikeville, Jasper and Altamont. In the Chattanooga area, the state lists Erlanger Health System as a partner.

Here’s who qualifies, according to the state:

• Tennessee resident.
• Income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level for your family size.
• Uninsured or underinsured. That includes having no coverage for these screenings. The state says people with Medicare Part A only (no Part B) count as underinsured.
• Age 40 or older for screening. Diagnostic tests are available from age 18.

The program also offers patient navigation, meaning someone helps you through the next steps if you need them. The state says people diagnosed through the program may qualify for treatment coverage through TennCare.

What it means for you: A mammogram is a bit like having the chimney swept before the first fire. It’s not exciting, but it’s a lot easier to handle anything found early. If cost has kept you or someone you love from a screening, call your county health department (Sequatchie: 423-949-3619) to ask about an appointment, or call the program’s central office at 1-877-969-6636. Employers with part-time or uninsured workers can pass this along, too.

👉 Read more (TDH: Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program) · Southeast Region health departments and phone numbers

🕰️ Clocks Fall Back Nov. 1: Easy Ways to Keep Your Sleep on Track

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks “fall back” one hour. For early risers, that can mean waking up even earlier than usual for a few days. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says your body runs on an internal clock, and morning sunlight is one of the main things that keeps it set right. Most people adjust within a few days.

The academy’s tips are simple:

• Get at least seven hours of sleep a night before and after the change.
• In the days before, shift bedtime a little later, along with meals and exercise.
• Set your clocks back Saturday evening and go to bed at your usual bedtime.
• Wake up at the same time every day, weekends included.
• Get outside for morning sunlight in the days after the change.
• Go easy on afternoon caffeine while your body adjusts.
• Give kids extra time and keep bedtime routines steady.

What it means for you: Think of it like moving the rooster’s coop a few feet. He’ll grumble a day or two, then crow right on schedule. A cup of coffee on the porch at sunrise is an easy way to soak up that morning light. If trouble sleeping or daytime tiredness sticks around, the academy says to talk with your doctor. Shift workers and anyone who drives early for a living may want to plan for a few groggy mornings that first week.

👉 Read more (AASM Sleep Education: How to adjust when daylight saving time ends)

🧑‍⚕️ Statewide: Help Paying Off School Loans for Clinicians Who Serve Rural Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Health announced that the Tennessee State Loan Repayment Program (TSLRP) opened applications on Oct. 12, and they close Dec. 12, 2026. The program helps pay down student loans for eligible primary care, dental and behavioral health clinicians who commit to two years of service in areas with shortages of primary care, dental or mental health providers.

State Health Commissioner Dr. John Dunn said the program is “an effective tool for strengthening Tennessee’s clinical workforce.” Full details, deadlines and applications are at tn.gov/health/ruralhealth.

What it means for you: This one is like a good neighbor helping raise a barn. When a clinic can keep a nurse practitioner, dentist or counselor close by, everybody spends less time on the road to Chattanooga. If you work in health care, or you run a clinic that’s trying to hire, read the eligibility rules early. If you know a young nurse or counselor from around here, forward this along.

👉 Read more (TDH: Fall 2026 TSLRP application cycle)

📅 This Week’s Sticky Notes

Quick reminders on the calendar:

• Monday, Oct. 19: UTC MobileMOC free clinic for adults 18+, Spring City Town Hall, 221 Front St., Spring City, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern. Call 423-425-1657.
• Tuesday, Oct. 20: Free Fight Flu TN shots at area health departments. Dunlap: 16939 Rankin Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central.
• Wednesday, Oct. 21: Mobile mammograms, Morning Pointe of Hixson, 5501 Old Hixson Pike, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments required: 423-495-4040.
• Thursday, Oct. 22: MobileMOC, Grandview Community Center, 175 Emergency Road, Grandview, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Year-round drop box at Dunlap Police, 119 Church St.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: MobileMOC, Piggly Wiggly, 17619 State Hwy. 58 N., Decatur, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern.
• Friday, Oct. 30: CHI Memorial mobile lung CT bus, Dunlap Walmart, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 423-495-5864.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween. Reflective tape, face paint over masks and a candy check at home.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour. Set them back Saturday night.
• Saturday, Nov. 7: Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Erlanger Park, Chattanooga. Ceremony at 9 a.m., walk at 9:30.
• Through Dec. 7: Medicare Open Enrollment. Free, unbiased help from TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.
• Through Dec. 12: Tennessee State Loan Repayment Program applications for rural clinicians.

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ✅ Put Tuesday, Oct. 20 on the fridge: free flu shots in Dunlap, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at 16939 Rankin Ave. Bring the whole family, 6 months and up.
• ✅ Live in another county? Check the list above or the Fight Flu TN map, and watch the time zone if you’re headed to Rhea or Hamilton.
• ✅ Feel flu coming on? Call your doctor early, since flu medicines work best when started soon.
• ✅ Overdue for a mammogram and worried about cost? Call your county health department or 1-877-969-6636.
• ✅ In the days before Nov. 1, nudge bedtime a little later so the time change is no big deal.
• ✅ Plan a morning porch sit in the sunshine the week after the time change.
• ✅ Know a nurse, dentist or counselor working in a rural clinic? Share tn.gov/health/ruralhealth before Dec. 12.

Practical rule: Get the shot before the season, the screening before the worry and the sunshine before the coffee gets cold.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist or a trusted counselor about what’s right for you and your family. In an emergency, call 911.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Health Glossary

• FluView: The CDC’s weekly report on how much flu is going around the country.
• Percent positive: Out of all the flu tests labs ran that week, the share that came back positive. When it rises, flu is spreading more.
• HHS Region 4: The federal government’s Southeast region, which includes Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and five other states.
• Antiviral: A prescription medicine that fights a virus, like flu, and works best when started early.
• Mammogram: An X-ray of the breast used to find cancer early, often before you could feel anything.
• Underinsured: Having insurance that doesn’t cover a needed service, such as a screening.
• Patient navigation: A helper who guides you through appointments, tests and paperwork after a screening.
• Circadian rhythm: Your body’s built-in clock that tells you when to feel sleepy and when to feel alert.
• Loan repayment program: Money that helps pay off a clinician’s student loans in exchange for working in an area that needs more providers.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is flu bad around here right now?

Not yet. The CDC’s Oct. 16 report says flu is still low nationally but rising, including in the Southeast region that includes Tennessee. That’s why health officials say September and October are the best months for most people to get a flu shot.

Do I need an appointment or insurance for Tuesday’s free flu shot?

No. Health departments say no appointment or insurance is needed for Fight Flu TN on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Anyone 6 months and older can come in. In Dunlap, it’s 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central at 16939 Rankin Ave.

I don’t live in Sequatchie County. Where can I go?

Nearby sites include Pikeville, Jasper, Coalmont, Evensville and two Hamilton County locations, listed with hours in the flu section above. For Van Buren County or anywhere else in Tennessee, use the Fight Flu TN map at tn.gov/health/fightflu.

Who can get a free mammogram through the health department?

The Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program serves Tennessee women 40 and older whose income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level and who are uninsured or underinsured. Call your county health department or 1-877-969-6636 to see if you qualify.

I only have Medicare Part A. Could I qualify?

Possibly. The state says people with Medicare Part A only, and no Part B, are considered underinsured for this program. Income and residency rules still apply.

Which way do the clocks go on Nov. 1?

Back one hour. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1. Sleep experts suggest setting your clocks back Saturday evening and going to bed at your normal time.

Who can apply for the state loan repayment program?

Eligible primary care, dental and behavioral health clinicians who agree to serve two years in a Tennessee area short on those providers. Applications are open Oct. 12 through Dec. 12, 2026, at tn.gov/health/ruralhealth.

🔗 Other Resources

• CDC FluView: Week 40 update (week ending Oct. 10, 2026)
• Tennessee Department of Health: Fight Flu TN and location map
• TDH: Free flu vaccine on Oct. 20
• Southeast Region: Fight Flu TN 2026 sites and hours
• Hamilton County Health Department: Free flu shot sites Oct. 20
• Dunlap Tribune: Health Department offers free flu shots
• TDH: Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program
• TDH: Southeast Region county health departments
• AASM Sleep Education: Adjusting when daylight saving time ends
• TDH: Tennessee State Loan Repayment Program fall 2026
• UTC MobileMOC: October clinic calendar
• Chattanoogan.com: Mobile mammography in Hixson Oct. 21
• CHI Memorial: Mobile lung screening schedule
• DEA: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
• Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment
• TN SHIP: Free Medicare counseling

🌻 Stack the Wood, Mark the Calendar, Rest Easy

Flu is only just stirring, the free shots are two days away, a screening may cost nothing at all, and the time change is a full two weeks off. That’s a lot of good news for one Sunday. Pick the one thing that fits your family this week, write it on the calendar by the phone, and let the rest wait its turn.

We’ll keep watching for clinics, screenings and helpful services so you don’t have to. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses anytime on Dunlap.Directory.