Flu season starts in early fall and can last through the spring. While most healthy adults can fight off the flu on their own, contracting the flu can lead to unpleasant symptoms like a high fever, body aches, chills and cold-like symptoms such as a sore throat, coughing, congestion and fatigue. Getting your annual flu shot is an easy way to safeguard your health and prevent a severe case of the flu, however, does the flu shot completely prevent you from getting the flu? Not quite. Keep reading to learn more about how the flu shot works to protect you from the flu.
Visit AFC Urgent Care North Bergen for your flu shot this flu season! Our walk-in clinic makes it easy to receive your annual flu shot when it’s convenient for your schedule. We offer flu shots to patients of all ages, with no appointment necessary. Walk into the clinic today, or schedule your visit online below.
Can I Still Get the Flu Even Though I Got my Flu Shot?
While the flu shot is an effective way to prevent severe symptoms and prevent the spread of the flu, it does not completely protect you from contracting the flu. The flu shot works by building up your immunity to the influenza virus, so that if you do contract the virus, your immune system is primed to fight it off, resulting in less severe symptoms and a faster recovery. You can still contract the flu virus, even if you get your flu shot, but you will get less sick if you have been vaccinated against the flu and contract the influenza virus.
Common Flu Symptoms
The flu is a viral infection which can cause you to get very sick. Most cases of the flu start with mild, cold-like symptoms. This can include a sore throat, nasal congestion, coughing, chest congestion, a runny nose, and fatigue. However, symptoms will quickly progress over the first day, and can include more intense symptoms like a fever, body aches, chills and extreme fatigue. In children, symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea are also possible. Flu symptoms typically last about a week, but are often severe and can be life threatening for at-risk individuals such as the elderly, young children, and individuals with underlying health conditions.
Treatment Options for Flu-Like Symptoms
Treatment options for the flu typically are limited, because the flu is caused by a viral infection and cannot be treated with medications like antibiotics. In most cases, healthy adults can fight off the flu on their own in about a week. Treatment typically revolves around managing specific symptoms with over the counter medications like fever reducers, cough suppressants, and decongestants. For at-risk individuals, more hands-on supportive care may be necessary to ensure no complications.
Visit AFC North Bergen for Your Annual Flu Shot or Rapid Flu Diagnosis and Treatment
The flu can spread quickly through a community, but getting your annual flu shot protects you from severe symptoms and helps prevent the spread of the flu. The influenza virus mutates over time, which is why updating your flu shot annually is vital to stay protected against new strains of the virus.
If you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms, visit AFC Urgent Care North Bergen for rapid diagnostic testing and treatment. Our walk-in clinic is open 7 days a week, and our board-certified medical providers are trained to accurately diagnose and provide the necessary supportive care for cases of the flu. If you haven’t received your annual flu shot yet, you can walk into the clinic anytime for a flu shot. We have affordable rates, and we work with most medical insurance plans. Walk in today, or contact us directly to learn more about the conditions we treat by calling (201) 588-1300.
