According to the CDC, flu activity is high in the U.S. and the season is expected to continue for weeks to come. CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 26 million flu illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths from flu.
The typical flu season starts in October and can continue until May, with sporadic cases during the summer months. If the young, elderly, or those with certain medical conditions contract the flu, it can be serious and possibly deadly. Healthy individuals can also catch the flu. Health care professionals recommend that every healthy person at least six months old should receive the flu vaccine before the season starts. However, with several months of flu season still ahead of us, it is still possible to get a flu shot and protect yourself from getting sick.
If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet this season and would like one, DOCS Medical Group in Stamford is offering flu shots (it’s where I got mine). I like that the office is conveniently located on West Main Street, I was able to walk-in without an appointment and didn’t have to wait on a long line. I was in and out in no time! Plus, the clinic accepts the majority of health insurance plans, but offers flu shots for just $20 if you’re paying out of pocket!
Dr. Jaseep Sidana with DOCS Media Group explains, “We are still seeing a record number of patients coming in across our centers with positive flu results for this time of year and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down just yet. If you’ve not received a flu shot this year we still highly recommend that you do so to protect yourself and your loved ones.”
According to DOCS Medical Group, upon receiving the flu vaccine, antibodies start developing in the body around two weeks after. Individuals getting a flu vaccination injection are receiving an inactivated strain of the flu virus. Traditional flu vaccinations, or trivalent vaccinations, defend against these variants: influenza A (H1N1) virus, influenza A (H3N2) virus, and influenza B virus.
Another vaccine option available at DOCS Medical Group in Stamford protects against four types of flu viruses, also called the quadrivalent vaccination. It includes the three listed and another influenza B virus. For people with egg allergies, you can receive the recombinant influenza vaccine that is 100% egg-free. The nasal spray flu vaccine is the only one that includes live, attenuated (weakened) strains of the flu virus and is not recommended for all individuals.
DOCS Medical Group has 15 urgent care locations across the state of Connecticut and 17 total, including one in Stamford at 2001 West Main Street. If you have injury or illness that requires urgent medical attention, but is not life threatening or you’re in need of a primary care provider, visit one of their locations. When you need health care services, your information is available regardless of which provider you see at a DOCS Medical Group location.
This post is sponsored by DOCS Medical Group