PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — You may be hearing mixed messages about flu vaccines. With flu season getting underway, Northern Light AR Gould Hospital wants to remind you about the impact getting a flu shot has on your own health and the health of those around you.
“Getting your flu shot is one of the easiest ways to protect your health. The vaccine not only lowers your chances of getting sick but also helps keep you from passing flu to your family, coworkers, and community,” Julie Tutt, RN, infection prevention specialist at AR Gould, said. “If you should happen to get the flu, being vaccinated will lessen the severity of illness.”
Flu shots are particularly important for older adults, young children and those who are at a higher risk due to medical conditions. Getting older children and family members vaccinated also protects infants less than six months of age that are not eligible to receive the vaccine.
To help people get vaccinated against the flu, AR Gould will host two flu shot clinics in October. For either clinic, patients are asked to bring their insurance card with them. Insurances will be billed as applicable, and there will be no expense to those being vaccinated.
A drive-thru flu shot clinic for adults will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 on the AR Gould Hospital campus on Academy Street. This clinic is intended for those age 18 or older, and high dose flu shots will be available for those age 65 or older.
A pediatric/family flu shot clinic takes place in the Northern Light Pediatric clinic on North Street from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. It is intended for children between the ages of six months and 18 years old, but adult vaccines will be available for any family members accompanying the children who desire to have one.
Flu shots are also available through your primary care provider, at local retail pharmacies and through flu shot clinics offered by other community organizations.
If someone has questions about whether getting a flu shot is right for them, they should contact their primary care provider to learn more.
