Now more than ever, it’s important to get your flu vaccine. From 2019-2020, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated over 35 million cases of the flu, 380,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 flu-related deaths. Flu shots are your first line of defense against the virus, but why should you get yours in Georgia? Not only can the flu shot help to ward off a positive case, but it can also aid in preventing severe symptoms. And, it can help you to avoid becoming part of next year’s statistics. Get your shot today at St. Joseph’s/Candler Urgent Care! If you are on the fence about whether or not you should get your flu shot, here are five reasons for getting yours this year.
1. The Flu Shot Can Help You Get Better, Faster
The flu can affect more than just your physical health. It can endanger your financial security as well. Time spent at home recuperating means that you will also miss valuable time and wages during the workweek. And this time off doesn’t only affect workers—estimates from past flu seasons have estimated billions of dollars in business losses. Flu symptoms may last for seven days, though a serious case can stretch up to two weeks. Flu shots from your local urgent care, like St. Joseph’s/Candler in Georgia and South Carolina, can help to reduce your amount of sick days so that you can get back to work faster!
2. The Flu Shot Has Little to No Side Effects
A wide range of symptoms can accompany the flu, from fever and body aches or chills to head congestion and a loss of energy. Those who receive the flu shot but still get sick report having much milder symptoms than those who forego the vaccine. You may still experience some nasal congestion or throat soreness, but these side effects are rare. Any active side effects are usually short-lived and gentle when compared to a traditional case of the flu.
3. The Flu Shot Can Prevent Life-Threatening Complications
The flu should not be taken lightly. As we stated earlier, the last flu season saw over 35 million positive cases and around 20,000 deaths from the virus. The flu can cause severe dehydration, inflame other preexisting conditions, and even develop other infections such as pneumonia. This may require medical care from hospitals that have already been stretched thin by recent waves of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Getting your flu shots from St. Joseph’s/Candler Urgent Care in Georgia can help to alleviate your symptoms and prevent life-threatening cases of the flu.
4. The Flu Shot Promotes Herd Immunity
The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness. It spreads through the transfer of droplets through coughing or sneezing. These droplets can land on surfaces of the home or workplace, like tables, door handles, or other high-traffic objects. When another individual touches these surfaces, they can then continue to transfer the virus or contract it themselves after touching their face or mouth. The flu vaccine has been shown to lower the risk of illness by 40% to 60%. Getting the flu shot can help to build resistance to the flu within the body and lead to greater population immunity, thus slowing the spread.
5. The Flu Shot Protects Against the Current Strain
The flu is an intelligent virus, meaning it adapts to its environment to survive. This means that the yearly flu vaccine must also evolve to prevent the current strain. Each year, the CDC researches the virus to determine which strains are most likely to appear during the year. Then, the vaccine is tailored to target that specific strain of the virus. So, while you may have gotten the previous year’s vaccine, this does not mean that you are protected from the current spread. Get the present flu vaccine to prevent the most recent active strain!
Get Your Flu Shots at St. Joseph’s/Candler Urgent Care in Georgia
These are only five of the many reasons why getting your annual flu shot can protect your health and the wellness of those around you. If you are ready to take your best form of flu prevention, visit St. Joseph’s/Candler Urgent Care today. We are proud to serve the people of Georgia and South Carolina with eight clinic locations. Whether you come straight to your nearest clinic or check-in online, our medical professionals are ready for you with this year’s flu shot. Come by today to stay ahead of the spread!