🩺 Get Your Flu Shot This Week to Be Ready by Thanksgiving, Roll Up a Sleeve at Two Friday Blood Drives, Check the Pill Drawer and Mind the Medicine Cabinet on Cold Nights: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: Two Weeks to Thanksgiving Means Two Weeks for a Flu Shot to Kick In, Give a Pint on Friday, Look Twice at That Online “Enhancement” Pill and Ask the Pharmacist About Your Cold Medicine

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Thursday, November 12, 2026

Good afternoon, Valley. The National Weather Service has Dunlap mostly sunny, near 58 today, slipping toward 53 this afternoon, with a small 20% chance of a shower before 7 p.m. and a low near 32 tonight. You’ve already heard about the string of frosty nights ahead, so we’ll keep the cold talk short. Today’s report is about where to go and what to check, and none of it calls for worry:

First, Chattanooga’s top county health doctor says flu season is running about a month early. The CDC says a flu shot takes about two weeks to start working, and Thanksgiving is exactly two weeks from today. Second, Friday brings two blood drives: one in Dunlap and one at Jasper Highlands. Third, two supplements sold online for men, 10 Day Forecast capsules and Candy Power For Man honey, have been recalled because they hide prescription drugs. Fourth, a fresh cold-night tip: some medicines and drinks can make it harder for your body to hold its heat.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• 💉 No flu shot yet? Get one this week and you’ll be covered by Thanksgiving, Nov. 26. Sequatchie County Health Department: (423) 949-3619, or ask your pharmacy or doctor.
• 🦃 Feeling sick near the holiday? Stay home from the big family dinner, especially if older folks will be there.
• 🩸 Give blood Friday, Nov. 13: Dunlap, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Citizens Tri-County Bank, 15699 Rankin Ave., or Jasper Highlands Fire Station One, 2 to 6 p.m.
• 💊 Have “10 Day Forecast” capsules or “Candy Power For Man” honey? Stop using them and throw them away. They contain hidden prescription drugs.
• 🧣 Cold nights: ask your pharmacist whether any of your medicines, even some cold medicines, can make it harder to stay warm.

💉 Two Weeks to Thanksgiving, Two Weeks for a Flu Shot to Kick In

This is regional news for the Chattanooga area and Tennessee, from Local 3 News (Nov. 10) and SValleyNow.com (Nov. 11), plus a basic fact from the CDC. We haven’t seen a Sequatchie County flu count. Dr. Stephen Miller, health officer for the Hamilton County Health Department, told Local 3 News that flu season is “about a month early” and that Tennessee and Hamilton County have seen “a little spike in the last couple weeks.” Here’s the calming part: health experts told the station that an early season doesn’t necessarily mean a bad one.

Dr. Miller also had a simple holiday request: if you’re feeling a little ill, don’t go see the older family member at a Thanksgiving gathering. He also urged families to make sure both grown-ups and children have their flu shots.

• The timing: the CDC says it takes about two weeks after a flu shot for the body to build its protection. Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, two weeks from today.
• Where to go here: the Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave. N., Dunlap, (423) 949-3619, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call first to ask about times and what to bring. Most pharmacies and doctors’ offices give flu shots, too.
• The everyday basics from the CDC, as shared by Local 3: wash your hands, keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth, cover coughs and sneezes and stay home when you’re sick.

What it means for you: A flu shot is like setting the turkey out to thaw. It needs a head start, so you can’t do it on Thanksgiving morning. If you’ve been meaning to get one, this week is right on time. And if someone in your house starts coughing the week of the holiday, let them have a plate brought to them instead of a seat next to Grandma. Nobody will mind.

👉 Read more (Local 3 News: Flu cases rising faster than anticipated) · CDC: Key facts about the flu vaccine

🩸 Roll Up a Sleeve Friday: Two Blood Drives, One Morning and One Afternoon

This is local news for Sequatchie and Marion counties, from Dunlap.Today and the Jasper Highlands Fire Department. Both drives are Friday, Nov. 13, and both are on Central time. If you’ve been wanting to do something good that only takes about an hour, Friday gives you two chances.

• Dunlap, morning to early afternoon: a Blood Assurance drive honoring Bella Cooper, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Citizens Tri-County Bank, 15699 Rankin Ave. Dunlap.Today reports it’s part of Blood Assurance’s childhood cancer awareness effort.
• Jasper Highlands, afternoon: the American Red Cross drive sponsored by the Jasper Highlands Fire Department Auxiliary, 2 to 6 p.m., at JHFD Station One, 195 Turkey Trot Lane. In October, the department said 33 people had signed up and it hoped to reach 60 donations for the first time. Sign up through the Red Cross link on the department’s post. Visiting family and friends are welcome.

The Red Cross’s tips for an easy donation:

• 🥩 Eat iron-rich foods beforehand, like red meat, fish, chicken, beans, spinach, iron-fortified cereal or raisins.
• 💧 Drink an extra 16 ounces of water before your appointment, and get a good night’s sleep.
• 🍳 Eat a healthy meal, and skip the fatty stuff like burgers, fries or ice cream.
• 🪪 Bring a photo ID and a list of your medicines.
• 👕 Wear a shirt with sleeves that roll up above the elbow. With Friday’s high only near 47, layer a sweater over it.

What it means for you: Giving blood is like taking a casserole to a neighbor you haven’t met yet. You may never know who it helped, but it helped. If you can’t give, sharing the time and place with a friend counts, too.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Blood drive honors Bella Cooper) · Jasper Highlands Fire Department: Blood Drive V · Red Cross: Before, during and after your donation

💊 Check the Pill Drawer: Two “Enhancement” Supplements Hid Prescription Drugs

This is national news. Both recalls were posted by the FDA today, Nov. 12. Both products were sold mostly online, and neither notice mentions Tennessee stores. Two companies are recalling products sold as male sexual enhancement supplements after FDA testing found prescription drugs that weren’t on the label:

• 10 Day Forecast capsules (3,200 mg): blue capsules on black cards with white lettering, UPC 191645852717. FDA found sildenafil (the drug in Viagra) and acetaminophen (the pain reliever in Tylenol). All lots are included. They were sold nationwide on the company’s website, on eBay and at one Minnesota store, from at least October 2021 to Oct. 17, 2026. Questions: 813-419-7033, weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.
• Candy Power For Man Organic Honey: a yellow and orange box of 60 wrapped candies, batch 241020, UPC 5285002251390. FDA found tadalafil (the drug in Cialis). It was sold on eBay from April 27 to July 20, 2026.

Why it matters: both companies warn that these hidden drugs can mix badly with nitrates, like nitroglycerin, and cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Folks with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol often take nitrates. The extra acetaminophen is a worry for anyone who already takes Tylenol or a cold medicine that contains it. Game Changer Products said it had no reports of anyone getting sick.

What it means for you: A supplement with hidden drugs is like a feed sack with the wrong label. You can’t know what’s really in it. If you have either one, stop taking it and throw it away safely. And here’s the bigger rule: tell your pharmacist about every supplement you take, not just your prescriptions. They’d much rather hear about it than be surprised. If you’ve felt dizzy, faint or unwell after taking one, call your doctor.

👉 Read more (FDA: 10 Day Forecast capsules recall) · FDA: Candy Power For Man honey recall

🧣 A Fresh Cold-Night Tip: What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet and Your Glass

This is general health guidance from the National Institute on Aging, a federal agency. Nothing new has happened locally. It’s simply timely, with NWS lows near 28 to 32 most nights through next week. We’ve already covered thermostats, space heaters and frostbite this month. Here’s a tip we haven’t shared yet. The National Institute on Aging says some medicines can affect how well your body holds its heat, including some over-the-counter cold medicines. It suggests asking your doctor whether any of yours do and what you can do about it.

• Alcohol: the agency says drinks with alcohol can make you lose body heat, so go easy on the evening nightcap during a cold snap.
• Health conditions: it says diabetes and thyroid problems can make it harder to stay warm, and memory problems can make it easy to forget a coat or blanket.
• Eat enough: regular meals help your body make its own heat.

What it means for you: Think of your body’s furnace like the one in the basement. Some things quietly turn its pilot light down. Next time you pick up a prescription, ask the pharmacist one question: “Do any of my medicines make it harder to stay warm?” It takes 30 seconds. If you look in on an older neighbor this week, a warm meal makes a fine excuse to knock.

👉 Read more (National Institute on Aging: Cold weather safety for older adults)

📅 This Week’s Sticky Notes (all times Central unless noted)

• Today, Thu., Nov. 12: Near 58, then about 32 tonight. 20% shower chance before 7 p.m. The health department is open again after Veterans Day ((423) 949-3619). UT Extension “Food for All” class, 5 to 6 p.m., Dunlap (registration: 423-949-2611).
• Fri., Nov. 13: High near 47, low near 31. Blood drives: Dunlap, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Citizens Tri-County Bank. Jasper Highlands Station One, 2 to 6 p.m. Free Chair Dancing at the library, 1 p.m. The CDC’s weekly flu report usually posts on Fridays.
• Sat., Nov. 14 (World Diabetes Day): Sunny, near 49, then about 28 Saturday night, the coldest of the run. CHI Memorial lung screening coach at Nutrition World, Chattanooga, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. our time (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern). Call 423-495-5864.
• Sun., Nov. 15 to Tue., Nov. 17: Sunny days in the mid-50s to near 60, lows near 31.
• Thu., Nov. 19: Great American Smokeout. Free help to quit: 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
• Fri., Nov. 20: Last day of the Griffith Elementary Harvest Food Drive.
• Mon., Nov. 23: First “Cooking Small, Living Well” class, 5 p.m. (423-949-2611).
• Thu., Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. A flu shot gotten by today, Nov. 12, has its full two weeks.
• Mon., Nov. 30: Last day for the veterans’ free dental cleaning offer at Prima Dental Premier, Chattanooga ((423) 499-8007).
• Mon., Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment ends.

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ✅ No flu shot yet? Get it this week so it’s working by Thanksgiving. Health department: (423) 949-3619.
• ✅ Make a family rule now: sick near the holiday means staying home from the big dinner.
• ✅ Pick a Friday blood drive: Dunlap 9 to 2 or Jasper Highlands 2 to 6.
• ✅ Before you give, drink an extra 16 ounces of water and eat a good, not greasy, meal.
• ✅ Check the drawer for 10 Day Forecast capsules or Candy Power For Man honey. Throw them away.
• ✅ Take nitroglycerin or another heart medicine? Never take an “enhancement” supplement without asking your doctor.
• ✅ Ask your pharmacist: “Do any of my medicines make it harder to stay warm?”
• ✅ Go easy on the nightcap during the cold nights.

Practical rule: shot this week, sleeve rolled up Friday and nothing goes in your mouth that your pharmacist hasn’t heard about.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist or health department about your own situation. In an emergency, call 911.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Health Glossary

• Health officer: The doctor who leads a county health department’s medical work.
• Antibodies: The body’s own germ fighters. A vaccine teaches your body to make them, which takes about two weeks for the flu shot.
• Blood drive: A set time and place where people can give blood, usually in about an hour from start to finish.
• Iron-rich foods: Foods like red meat, beans and spinach that help your body make new blood.
• Undeclared ingredient: Something that’s in a product but isn’t listed on the label.
• Sildenafil and tadalafil: Prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction, sold as Viagra and Cialis. They’re meant to be taken only with a doctor’s OK.
• Nitrates: Heart medicines, like nitroglycerin, that open up blood vessels. They can drop blood pressure dangerously when mixed with the drugs above.
• Acetaminophen: The pain and fever reliever in Tylenol and many cold medicines. Too much of it can hurt the liver.
• UPC: The barcode number on a package. It helps you match a product to a recall.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Does an early flu season mean a bad flu season?

Not necessarily. Health experts told Local 3 News that an early start doesn’t necessarily mean a severe season. It does mean it’s a good time to get a flu shot and keep up the handwashing.

Is it too late to get a flu shot?

No. The CDC says it takes about two weeks after the shot for protection to build, so getting one this week means you’ll be covered by Thanksgiving. Call the Sequatchie County Health Department at (423) 949-3619 or ask your pharmacy.

Can I just walk in to give blood Friday?

It’s best to sign up ahead of time. The Jasper Highlands drive takes sign-ups through the Red Cross link on the fire department’s post. For the Dunlap drive, see the Dunlap.Today announcement for Blood Assurance sign-up details. Bring a photo ID and a list of your medicines.

I bought a “male enhancement” pill online. How do I know if it’s recalled?

Look for the name “10 Day Forecast” on a black card with UPC 191645852717, or “Candy Power For Man” honey with batch 241020. If you have either, stop using it and throw it away. Even if yours isn’t on the list, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any product like this, especially if you take heart medicine.

Which medicines can make it harder to stay warm?

The National Institute on Aging says some prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including some cold medicines, can affect body heat. It doesn’t list every one, so the easiest step is to ask your pharmacist or doctor about yours.

🔗 Other Resources

• Local 3 News: Flu cases rising faster than anticipated
• SValleyNow.com: Flu activity up in Tennessee (Nov. 11)
• CDC: Key facts about the seasonal flu vaccine
• Sequatchie County Health Department · 16939 Rankin Ave. N., Dunlap · (423) 949-3619
• Dunlap.Today: Blood drive honors Bella Cooper, Nov. 13
• Jasper Highlands Fire Department: Fall 2026 Blood Drive
• American Red Cross: Before, during and after your donation
• FDA: 10 Day Forecast capsules recall
• FDA: Candy Power For Man honey recall
• FDA: All current recalls
• National Institute on Aging: Cold weather safety for older adults
• National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap
• Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)

🌻 A Head Start, a Helping Arm and a Quick Question for the Pharmacist

None of this needs worry. Flu showed up early, but a shot this week gives you a full head start on the holiday. Friday, an hour of your time can help a stranger. A quick look in the pill drawer and one question at the pharmacy counter keep small risks small. Enjoy the sunshine between the frosty nights, keep a warm meal on the table and keep looking out for one another.

For more calm, useful news for the Sequatchie Valley every morning, read Dunlap.Today. To find local clinics, pharmacies and businesses, visit Dunlap.Directory.