Flu shots are available to those who don’t have a regular doctor or nurse.
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Last flu season, 146 children lost their lives to the illness.
However, Dr. Dillaha said this year’s vaccine matches well with all four strains.
This means that this month is also the official time to start thinking about getting a flu shot.
Last year, the CDC guessed wrong about the strain of flu that would be most impactful, and the vaccine produced was less effective than normal. Doctors recommend that anyone 6 months or older get vaccinated.
Essentia Health clinics are offering 10-minute appointments at all locations: Baxter, Brainerd, Crosslake, Emily, Hackensack, Pequot Lakes, Pierz, Pillager and Pine River.
“The people that are most susceptible to to the flu complications are pregnant women, people like young children, and especially our older people”, Abernethy said.
“Influenza vaccine can substantially reduce the risk of hospitalizations for influenza pneumonia, a serious complication of influenza infections”, said Dr. Grijalva, who is an associate professor of health policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville reported by WebMD. After the shot, it takes two weeks for your body to develop flu anti-bodies. Commenting on the two particular strains of the virus that sickened many people past year including the ones who had received the flu shot, CDC director Tom Frieden said, “The 2015-2016 #flu vaccine includes updated H3N2 and influenza B virus components”.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mississippi is one of 22 States with a high influenza rating.
Vaccination is not only important for protecting yourself, but others around you as well. “You may get added protection against the real killer – pneumonia”.
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You may be healthy, but others around you may not be. They can choose to receive a regular flu vaccine or a high dose flu vaccine which may result in a stronger immune response against the flu.
