Flu Shots Jacksonville
Since patients can catch a viral cold with flu-like symptoms anytime of the year, it might seem as though the Flu Season never ends. But, it does. Living in this area of Florida, you are most likely to suffer from the flu between October and May with the peak of activity between December and February. However, every flu season is different and flu viruses can morph as they spread from place to place. This explains why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases updated information for each new season.
Flu shots are the only proven way to protect you and your family from the flu. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older should get flu shots to protect against the disease and prevent dangerous secondary medical issues. It is important to understand there are many flu viruses and these are constantly changing, so flu shots must be updated annually to best match the circulating viruses. Timely vaccination is the only way to reduce the impact of the flu and flu-related illnesses. For most of us, this will mean fewer doctor's visits and less days missed at school or work. In addition, the larger the population vaccinated, the less danger of flu-related hospitalizations for higher risks groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, very young children and those suffering from certain health conditions.
Even if you don't have a primary care physician or regular doctor, you can get a flu vaccine at any of the Family Care Partners locations. Since effectiveness can vary from year-to-year among different risk groups, there are variations of flu vaccines that are intended for specific ages and medical conditions. Contrary to some myths, you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccination. Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare and symptoms (fast heartbeat, breathing problems, wheezing, hives, weakness or paleness) occur within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. To ensure the best protection for you and your family, we recommend you have a physician or certified healthcare professional review your medical history before selecting the right flu shot for your protection.
NOTE: You can visit the CDC's FluView for current information regarding weekly U.S. influenza surveillance reports. Should you or anyone in your family develop flu-like symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
