It’s that time of year again. Autumn has rolled its way into the mountains, and with it comes the ensuing wave of seasonal sicknesses.
Each year, Mercy Urgent Care sees and treats more than a thousand patients for the flu virus and its many complications. Millions of Americans get the flu — but you don’t have to be one of them. This fall, stop in at any of Mercy’s seven locations and ask for a flu shot. A healthy visit today could save a more serious visit later on.
It could even save your life.
Why should I get the flu shot?
Covered by many healthcare plans, the flu vaccine reduces a person’s risk of developing a flu-related illness by an average of 61 percent — and the flu is more than just an annual annoyance.
Each season, between 5 and 20 percent of the U.S. population comes down with the virus. Millions of people seek medical attention for the flu, and more than 200,000 people per year are hospitalized due to the illness and its complications.
Annual flu-related deaths in the U.S. are estimated to be in the thousands, ranging anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 deaths in a single year, according to the CDC. Since these deaths usually stem from flu-related complications rather than the virus itself, it makes exact figures nearly impossible to track.
In the 2016/2017 season alone, the CDC estimates that the flu vaccine prevented 5.3 million illnesses, 2.6 million medical visits and 85,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations.
Vaccines are especially important for those at a higher risk of developing complications from the flu — people with chronic conditions (such as asthma, COPD and diabetes), people with heart disease, those who have had a stroke, young children and adults 65 and older, pregnant women, people with HIV or AIDS or people who have cancer.
Flu Shot FAQ
How often should I get vaccinated? Because of variations to the strain of influenza each season, it’s important to get re-vaccinated each year to effectively ward off the flu.
Is the flu shot safe for me? Flu vaccinations are safe for the vast majority of Americans — with the only exceptions being infants younger than six months, individuals with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (an immune system disorder), those who have had severe allergic reactions to previous flu vaccines and those with life-threatening allergies to ingredients in the vaccine (such as eggs or gelatin).
When is the best time to get vaccinated? For your best chance of preventing the flu this season, medical professionals recommend getting vaccinated by early November, before flu season kicks into high gear. However, patients that have not already contracted the virus can still be vaccinated up until (or during) flu season’s peak in January/February.
Flu shots at Mercy Urgent Care
Flu shots are now available at all seven Mercy Urgent Care locations for ages 4 and up, and cost $34.99 before insurance. The vaccine is preservative-free.
To find your closest Mercy Urgent Care location, click here.
If filing insurance, Mercy uses whichever cost is lower: the regular price of the vaccine or your co-pay. Unfortunately, Mercy is unable to file Medicaid for the flu vaccine, and enrollees should go to their primary care physician or pharmacy if filing through Medicaid.
Don’t be caught off-guard this season, and come see us today!
