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Make sure to get your annual flu shot from AFC Urgent Care Chelmsford as a quick, easy way to protect yourself from this illness, which could potentially keep you laid up in bed for weeks at a time. Flu, short for “influenza," is a serious illness which can potentially lead to a stay in the hospital. In rare cases, it can be deadly. By getting the flu shot, you can also help prevent spreading the flu to your family, friends, coworkers and/or classmates, making immunization important not just for yourself, but for the entire community.
The flu is a very common illness, especially during flu season, which is typically between October and March. Because the flu is so serious, much more so than the common cold, it’s very important to receive a flu shot, especially because it’s so convenient to simply walk in to AFC Urgent Care Chelmsford and be on your way. Because the flu virus evolves every year, different strains are more prevalent from year to year, meaning you need a yearly vaccine to protect yourself against the flu.
Who should get the flu vaccine in Chelmsford:
You should not be vaccinated for flu if you have an egg allergy or if you’ve had a past adverse reaction to the flu shot.
The CDC conducts research on a yearly basis to determine how well the flu vaccine works against preventing the illness. Recent research has indicated a 40-60% success rate in preventing the flu, and of those who contracted it, their symptoms were less severe. In 2017 alone, the flu vaccine prevented an estimated 5.3 million flu cases.
Don’t put it off: Protect yourself and your family by receiving the flu shot once a year!
AFC Urgent Care has seasonal flu vaccines in stock and ready for you at any clinic, without an appointment. Our 4-strain flu vaccine is one of the best values in the Chelmsford area at just $35, and is FREE with most insurance…no co-pay required!
It is a common misconception that you don’t need to get the flu vaccine every year. Since your body’s immunity to the flu declines over time, it is important to regularly boost your ability to fight the flu. And since the virus can change or mutate over time, you will want to make sure you are protected against the current or expected strains of the flu.
Influenza or the flu is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and can even death. Each season can be different and infections can affect individuals very differently. And despite best efforts, every year approximately 250,000 individuals are hospitalized as a result of having the flu. Of those, about 36,000 people, mostly over age 65, die each year from complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that everyone over the age of six months get an annual flu shot, since even healthy people can get very sick from the flu. But it is even more important that seniors over the age of 65, children, and pregnant women receive the shot every year, between the times of September and December, right before the flu season reaches its peak in January.
If you do contract the flu, schedule an appointment at AFC Urgent Care so we can provide treatment that can help cut your recovery time in half. Our medical staff will provide you with answers to any of your questions, outline a treatment plan, call in prescriptions, and offer additional recommendations.
Once treatment has been administered, you should avoid coming into contact with other people for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Once your fever has come down, be diligent about disinfecting and washing your hands. Maintain a safe distance from those who are at high risk of contracting viruses: Infants, Elderly, anyone with a weakened immune system. Continue to avoid strenuous activities, eat healthy and get plenty of rest. Having a weakened immune system will cause you to be more susceptible to other illnesses.
Most people get over the flu within a couple weeks of experiencing symptoms like headaches, body aches, sore throat, and runny nose. However, complications can occur: inflammation of the heart and brain, organ failure, and inflammatory response being just a few.
People over 65, people with chronic conditions like asthma, pregnant women, and young children are all at risk of developing complications.
CALL US TODAY | (978) 446-7515
Call (978) 446-7515 for more information about our Chelmsford urgent care services.