With flu season fast approaching, ACMH Rural Healthcare Clinics now offers walk-in flu shots Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM in both the Audubon and Exira Clinics.
The two best ways to protect yourself, and those around you, from influenza are to get vaccinated and to practice good hand washing. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also those around you who may be too young (under 6 months) or have a medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older be vaccinated annually against influenza. Flu vaccine causes antibodies to develop in the body about two to three weeks after getting a flu shot. These antibodies protect you against infection from the most likely types of flu viruses in the upcoming flu season. It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to take full effect.
People often worry that the flu vaccine can give you the flu. The CDC confirms that the flu vaccine can’t give you the flu, but you might develop flu-like symptoms. Reasons for these flu-like symptoms include a reaction to the vaccine, you might have been exposed to the influenza virus shortly before or after you receive the flu shot and before the two-week window required for the flu shot to take full effect, or you might have another illness, such as the common cold, which can produce flu-like symptoms.
Some people may have a low-grade fever, headache, or muscle aches after a flu shot, but these symptoms usually go away after one or two days. The most common side effects from a flu shot are soreness, redness, or swelling at the spot where the shot was given.
How well the flu vaccine works can vary. Reviews of past studies have found that, on average, the flu vaccine is about 40-60 percent effective for adults between 18 and 64 years. Even when the vaccine doesn’t completely prevent the flu, it may lessen the severity of your illness and the risk of serious complications.
Get Ready for Flu Season. Make your flu vaccine part of your fall routine. Walk-in flu shots are available at both Audubon Family Health Clinic and Exira Medical Clinic. For more information, call 712-563-4611 in Audubon or 712-268-5348 in Exira.
