Community Health of Central Washington
Schedule Your Flu Shot NOW
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season. The CDC recommends that everyone get their flu shot by the end of October.
Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster vaccine along with your Flu shot.
Flu vaccination prevents illness and death.
An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.
Why Should I Get a Flu Shot?
Influenza (flu) is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year.
Flu can mean a few days of feeling bad and missing work or it can result in more serious illness. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu.
A flu shot can save your life.
Every year, about 200,000 people are hospitalized because of the flu. The flu can cause some serious complications that sometimes require hospitalization, such as dehydration, worsening of chronic illnesses, bacterial pneumonia, ear infections and sinus infections.
In fact, influenza can lead to death in serious cases. During the 2017-2018 flu season, the CDC estimates 80,000 people died.
Most people are eligible to get the flu shot.
You won't get the flu from the flu shot.
A common misconception is that you can contract the flu from a flu vaccine, but that is not possible because the shot uses a deadened form of the virus.
The flu shot changes each year.
The flu shot helps with herd immunity.
The sooner you get the flu shot, the better.
Immunizations
Schedule Your Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine at the Same Time!
Flu and COVID-19 are two different viruses and require two different vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends both vaccines and says it’s safe to receive them at the same time.
COVID-19 and the Flu Shot
Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 booster and a flu vaccine at the same time as your flu shot.
The CDC recommends that everyone get their flu shot by the end of October. They generally caution seniors not to get vaccinated too early, in July or August, because you want to have the highest protection during the winter.
Even though both vaccines can be given at the same visit, people should follow the recommended schedule for either vaccine: If you haven’t gotten your currently recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine, get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can, and ideally get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Flu Shot
When should I get my flu shot?
It takes up to two weeks for your immunity to build up after getting a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals make plans to get vaccinated early in the fall, before flu season begins, and ideally by the end of October.
“However, even if you are not able to get vaccinated until November or later, a vaccination is still recommended because flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May,” per https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.html
Who should get a flu shot?
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season, with rare exceptions.
Different influenza vaccines are approved for different age groups. Some people should not get some types of influenza vaccines, and some people should not receive flu vaccines at all (though this is uncommon). Everyone who is vaccinated should receive a flu vaccine that is appropriate for their age and health status.
Our healthcare providers will address any concerns or questions you may have!
Is it safe for pregnant women to get a flu shot?
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that women who are or will be pregnant during the flu season receive the flu shot (not the nasal spray) as soon as it is available, typically in the fall before flu season begins, and ideally no later than the end of October.
Who should NOT get a flu shot or should wait?
Some people should talk with a doctor first before getting a flu shot. Some examples would include:
- People who have a severe allergy to eggs
- People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination
- People who have developed Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine
- People who have a moderate to severe illness or are feeling sick
What are the side effects of getting a flu shot?
You might have some minor side effects after getting a flu shot, with symptoms including but not limited to:
- Soreness, redness or swelling of the skin where you got the shot
- Low‐grade fever
- Body aches
Side effects are normally mild and often go away on their own in days. Our healthcare providers will address any concerns or questions you may have!
I got my flu shot and I still got sick with the flu. Why?
Flu vaccine effectiveness can vary. Some people get the flu even after being vaccinated. Typically, when that happens the severity of the illness is reduced, according to several studies.
Per tips: https//www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/flushot.htm
Will a flu vaccine protect me against COVID-19?
Why should I get a flu vaccine if it does not protect me from COVID-19?
Can I get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines in the same visit?
Yes, the CDC has confirmed that patients can get any of the currently authorized COVID‐19 vaccines at the same time as the flu vaccine.