Although getting sick with the flu may not feel like a big deal right now, your opinion might change once you actually come down with the illness. Not only are the symptoms very uncomfortable, but they can take you out of your normal routine for days or even a full week. This can affect your productivity at work or school, and you can also lose money on treatment.

Because the flu can last for several weeks, you may miss needed days of work, school, or activities that you routinely participate in. However, the good news is that flu shots available at walk-in clinics can help avoid the headaches of missing important commitments. Just ask any AFC Urgent Care walk-in clinic location about details!

Here’s what you should expect if you come down with the flu:

The flu lasts one to two weeks

While many people hope to head back to work or school after a day or two, the truth is that the flu lasts for one to two weeks for most people. In severe cases, it can last even longer than that. Not only are you missing out on important work and school, but during that entire time, you’ll need to spend extra money on products from the drugstore to stay healthy, and you may need to pay for medical treatment as well. 

You may need to use sick days to miss work

When you come down with the flu, you shouldn’t come into work since it’s so contagious. However, this means you’ll need to tap into your sick or personal days to make sure you still get paid. If your company doesn’t offer sick days, you will actually lose money by missing work, which can be devastating. 

Kids may need make-up days from school

If your child gets sick with the flu, chances are they will miss a lot of important learning at school. They may come back and find they are far behind their peers, and need to do makeup assignments to catch up. In some cases, if you miss enough school, you’ll need to take extra make-up days on weekends or holidays. 

Getting a flu shot prevents the flu

To avoid missing out on work or school, make sure you get a flu shot during flu season. Flu shots are easy to get through your local urgent care center, clinic, or pharmacy, and are available at affordable pricing. They are particularly important for kids going to school or adults who work in large offices, where illnesses spread quickly. 

Now is the perfect time to get a flu shot, before fall hits and flu season picks up. Visit your local clinic today, and you can make sure that you don’t lose valuable time and money to the flu this year.