Don’t Catch the Bug this Year!

With the flu season fast approaching, it’s important for us to do our part in protecting ourselves and preventing the spread of this illness. Flu shots are the best way to prevent the flu and its complications. Health Services at RRC will be offering FREE flu shots for the next few weeks—check below for dates, times & locations.

What is the flu?

Influenza (or the flu) is a lot more than just “a really bad cold”. The symptoms of influenza can range from mild to severe and they include fever, cough, sore throat, chills, fatigue, runny nose, aches, and nausea. Severe complications resulting from flu infection can result in hospitalization or even death.

Certain populations, such as seniors, very young children, pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy, or those with weakened immune systems are at high risk for developing complications. Although even the healthiest people can catch the flu, become very ill, and spread the infection to others.

Why is it necessary to get the flu shot every year?

A flu vaccine is needed every year because immunity to the virus and protection from vaccination decreases over time. In addition, the flu vaccine is usually adapted and changed yearly in order to target the strains of influenza virus that are predicted to be most common. This year’s flu vaccine will protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season.

How does the flu vaccine work?

Flu vaccines contain de-activated (dead) influenza viruses, which trigger the body to produce antibodies that are used to recognize and fight the flu virus. This process happens approximately two weeks after vaccination and there is a chance that one could get the flu during this two week window—which is why some people are falsely led to believe that they got the flu from getting vaccinated.

Upcoming dates/times:

EDC:                                                                                                                                November 6^th, 08:30AM-3:30PM, TRC, Room P107                                                   November 7^th, 08:30-3:30PM, PGI, Room 306                                                                     NDC:                                                                                                                                             November 19^th &20^th, 08:30AM-3:30 PM, Room E308                                                              November 21^st, 08:30AM-3:30PM, Room B150

For more great information, check out some previous immunization blogs HERE

From Health Services  and our U of M Nursing Students here on practicum who will also be helping with the flu clinics.