With the cold and influenza (flu) season upon us and the coronavirus pandemic surging, The Good Clinic supports the American Association of Nurse Practitioners’ (AANP) recommendation to get a seasonal flu vaccine.
The flu season in the United States typically lasts from October through March and peaks between December and February. Because the vaccine starts to build antibodies within two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people ages six months and older get the annual influenza vaccination by the end of October.*
Like many vaccinations, the flu shot does not guarantee that you will not get sick. However, it can lessen the severity of illness in people who become infected. It can also reduce the risk of hospitalization related to the flu. If you do develop flu-like symptoms, check with your health care provider regarding next steps.
The flu vaccination is a critical preventive tool for many people. It can help protect pregnant women during and after pregnancy and may also protect those more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions. During the pandemic, the influenza vaccination can also help protect essential workers and save medical resources for patients with COVID-19.
The Good Clinic offers immunizations including COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccines. To get a vaccination, call us, make an appointment online, or stop in.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR A FLU SHOT TODAY
For more information about seasonal flu shots, visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm.
*For those who have no medical contraindications.