Free flu shots available while supplies last for walk-ins on a first come, first served basis.
Nassawadox, VA – It’s that time of year again – time to fight the flu and get through the season illness free.
As part of its commitment to a healthier community, Riverside will offer free flu shots at the following two locations on the Eastern Shore on October 20:
•Riverside Shore Medical Center at Metompkin, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 17385 Lankford Highway, Parksley
•Riverside Cape Charles Medical Center, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 216 Mason Ave, Cape Charles
Flu shots are available while supplies last on a first come, first-served basis for adults and teenagers age 14 and up. Appointments are not required.
“The flu is not something to take lightly,” said Riverside Shore Memorial’s Infection Prevention Manager Shelia Corbin. “The benefits of getting a flu shot greatly outweigh the risk, and getting a shot is not as bad as getting the flu. Even if you think you are healthy and young and not at risk for flu complications, get the shot. The flu can make anyone miserable for days, and the people around you – especially the very old, the very young and the immunocompromised – are at risk, even if your symptoms don’t make you miserable.”
The flu, short for influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness causes by a virus. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year prior to flu season starting, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While the CDC reports that the severity, length and timing of flu season is unpredictable and changes from year to year, flu season in the U.S. generally runs through the fall and winter.
The unknowns of the season underscore the importance of getting vaccinated, the CDC reports. It is important to take every day measures to prevent spreading the virus, including staying away from sick people, washing hands frequently and staying home from work and school when sick to prevent exposing others.
Getting vaccinated before flu activity begins helps provide protection once flu season starts. It takes roughly two weeks following the vaccination for the body’s immune system to provide the protection.
For more information about Riverside Health System, visit www.riversideonline.com. To learn more about this and other flu clinics from Riverside, visit www.riversideonline.com/flu.
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