Get Your Flu Shot Now

Why you should get a flu shot now, before the snowbirds, flakes, and grandchildren descend upon Century Village.

Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, echoes Spell’s sentiments: “You might not only be protecting yourself you will be protecting a young baby or an elderly person who may be next to you.”
Even if someone comes down with a flu strain not included in the vaccine, he or she will get less sick than if they didn’t get the shot, she added.

Five Reasons To Get A Flu Shot Now

    The Flu Season Is Just Starting: The CDC suggests getting a flu shot as the season starts. It takes awhile for the vaccine to get up to full speed.
    You Touch Everything: The virus lurks in places you wouldn’t think. Everyone is vulnerable to picking up the virus.
    A Flu Shot Won’t Make You Sick: It’s a myth. The vaccine is made up of antibodies, an inactive virus that can’t transmit infection.
    Do It For Others: You can unknowingly pass on the flu to your spouse, your children and those vulnerable, like the elderly
    The flu can kill: The recent pandemic in Australia killed more than 70.

Those most vulnerable to the deadliness of the flu strain are young children and the elderly. The rest of us will miss work or school suffering fever, chills, congestion, body aches, and sore throat.

D Putting it off is not wise since it takes two weeks for the vaccine to take full effect.

Also, the vaccine carries a dead virus so that it can’t give anyone the disease.

“We are very concerned about the upcoming flu season especially because of all the bad publicity the flu shot has been getting,” Greissman said. “Our practice has seen an upswing in the number of influenza positive patients; I strongly urge the community to get vaccinated this season.”

Florida usually runs a little behind the rest of the country as the flu hits colder climes first and then winter visitors bring it to Florida during tourist season. The state has sentinel physicians reporting what strains are out there.

“The bottom line for the public is that it’s very important to get the flu vaccine,” she said. “We have a lot more places to get vaccines. They are often not even asking for a copay now.”

Some Floridians may even come out ahead. Publix Supermarkets is offering a $10 grocery coupon for every adult who gets immunized from the flu. Walgreens, CVS and other outlets administer flu shots to children as well and others offer coupons, too.