With the winter months just around the corner, it’s now time to get flu vaccines for you and your family before your house is full of fevers and dripping noses. Influenza can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, body aches, headaches, and sometimes earaches or sinus problems.

Here is what you need to know about the flu vaccination:

The flu vaccine is essential

The flu virus is common and unpredictable, and it can cause serious complications and death, even in healthy people. Immunization each year is the best way to protect you.  Although influenza can be treated with antiviral medications, these drugs are less effective if not started early, can be expensive, and may have bothersome side effects. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends annual influenza immunization for all people ages 6 months and older. In addition, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children with high risk conditions and all children under the age of 5 especially should be vaccinated.

Young children, people with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems, and pregnant women are at high risk for complications of influenza, such as pneumonia. 

Now is the time to get vaccinated.

Influenza vaccine shipments have already begun, and will continue through the fall and winter. Infants and children up to 8 years of age receiving the flu shot for the first time may need two doses of the vaccine, administered four weeks apart. It is important that these children get their first dose as soon as possible to be sure they can complete both doses before the flu season begins. 

You can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine.

Flu vaccines are made from killed viruses. Mild symptoms, such as nausea, sleepiness, headache, muscle aches, and chills, can occur. The side effects of the flu vaccine are mild (and nothing compared to having the flu). The most common side effects are pain and tenderness at the site of injection. Fever is also seen within 24 hours after immunization in approximately 10% to 35% of children younger than 2 years of age but rarely in older children and adults. These symptoms are usually mild and resolve on their own in a couple of days.

We encourage you to make an appointment with your provider or come to our flu vaccination clinics on the following days:

• Tuesday, September 20, 2016 – 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Thursday, September 22, 2016 – 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, September 27, 2016 – 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Thursday, September 29, 2016 – 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 11, 2016 – 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Thursday, October 13, 2016 – 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 18, 2016 – 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, October 19, 2016 – 12:00 pm -7:00 pm
• Thursday, October 20, 2016 – 7:00 am – 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Women’s Wellness Night Out
• Thursday, November 3, 2016 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, November 8, 2016 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, November 15, 2016 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

It is recommended that everyone six months and up be vaccinated each year, including women who are pregnant. Appointments required.

Call today to make an appointment using our 24-hour appointment line at 715-684-1111.