Flu vaccine can be crucial this time of year
During fall and winter months, emergency rooms and urgent care centers fill up with patients showing flu symptoms. This year, it’s more important than ever to get a flu shot for optimum health, as the mingling of flu as well as COVID-19 patients could cause them to infect each other.
“Liz George, resident care manager, oversees the process of facilitating our immunization program along with our nursing team. Voss Road Pharmacy has partnered with The Buckingham to bring the flu shot to our community. It is available to all of our independent- and assisted-living residents,” said Pam Ortiz, sales counselor for The Buckingham. “This will take place Oct. 6 and 8. We do provide the flu shots to all residents in skilled nursing. We also offer flu shots to employees, a standing practice at The Buckingham for the past 15 years.”
Flu shot campaign
“Erickson Living-managed communities like Eagle’s Trace spend a great deal of resources on the yearly flu shot campaign for both residents and employees,” said Dr. Brian Tremaine, medical director at Eagle’s Trace. “The message points are consistent in noting the value of getting the shot for your own personal wellness and the importance of being a good neighbor to your friends and co-workers.”
“We offer flu shots to residents in our on-site medical center, but our health care professionals will also go directly to their apartment homes if that makes it easier,” Tremaine said. “The same applies to employees. We stress how a high participation rate protects each other, and, accordingly, we provide dates and times that fit the schedules of our staff members. The entire comprehensive program is truly a win-win for everyone.”
“No year is a good year to get the flu, but this year — with COVID-19 also raging, it’s especially bad,” said Mark Thompson, an epidemiologist in the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in an interview with National Public Radio (NPR).
Health providers plan to give millions of flu shots this fall, with flu vaccine makers to prepare approximately 190 million doses for the fall/winter season.
It is a good time to start thinking about when, how, and where you will get immunized against the flu. It takes roughly two weeks for the flu shot to take full effect. Recent CDC studies show that flu vaccines prevent millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year.
Go to www.cdc.gov/flu for additional information.