Getting a Flu Shot This Year is More Important Than Ever

Why Getting a Flu Shot This Year is More Important Than Ever

Why Getting a Flu Shot This Year is More Important Than Ever

Getting the flu shot every year is one of the best things you can do for your health. It is an easy way to prevent the spread of a deadly disease while also protecting yourself against it. Unfortunately, as we prepare to head into flu season, influenza isn’t the only killer respiratory virus to worry about.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc as the novel coronavirus spreads around the world. Without an end in sight, this means that both COVID-19 and the flu will be around this fall and winter.

Since there still isn’t a vaccine for COVID-19, getting your flu shot is more important than ever.

Protecting Yourself

Most people are familiar with the flu. It is an infection caused by several strains of the influenza virus that mainly affects the upper respiratory tract. Those who get the flu may suffer from things like coughing, nasal drainage, fever, headache, sore throat, and fatigue.

The flu affects millions of people around the world each year and claims hundreds of thousands of lives in the process. In 2020, the presence of COVID-19 could make getting the flu more dangerous.

It may be possible to come down with both illnesses at the same time. Since they both affect the respiratory system and punish the immune system, the effects could be catastrophic—even for relatively healthy individuals.

For that reason, getting the flu shot is crucial. The vaccine helps reduce the possibility of having to fight both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

Protecting Your Community

Currently, health experts have their eyes set on the possibility of a “twindemic,” with both a severe flu season and an increase in COVID-19 cases happening simultaneously. That could overwhelm hospital systems and deplete medical resources.

Although there isn’t a vaccine for COVID-19, taking steps to prevent getting it is also essential. Things like practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, frequent hand hygiene, and staying home as much as possible will all help. Meanwhile, getting the flu vaccine helps decrease the risk of a double pandemic breaking out.

If that isn’t enough of a reason to get a flu shot, the example of the Southern Hemisphere is convincing. In countries like Australia—which are currently experiencing winter—the number of flu cases decreased dramatically compared to previous years. Efforts related to preventing the coronavirus, along with flu vaccines, helped lead to that positive outcome.

Benefits of a Flu Shot Clinic for Your Workplace

Although not every business is currently operating in person, employers play a huge role in helping their employees stay safe. Working with Velocity Urgent Care is a perfect way to do that.

We will bring a team to your worksite to run a flu shot clinic for your employees. As the employer, you are billed directly, giving you the ability to encourage your workers to get vaccinated for free.

The benefits of this are numerous. Each year, businesses lose 20 million workdays to the flu. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, that number could be even higher. Promoting safe and healthy workplaces this fall and winter starts with getting the flu vaccine. Providing it for employees on-site is one of the best ways to do so. If you’re interested in setting up a flu shot clinic for your workplace, please reach out to:

Chanda Woodhead, 

Occupational Medicine Sales Rep

(757)585-6630

cwoodhead@velocityuc.spinmodern.co

Velocity Urgent Care Has Your Back

For individuals, Velocity Urgent Care is also ready to help. You can stop in anytime or set up an appointment online to get your flu shot at one of our conveniently located clinics.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking serious safety precautions to ensure that our locations are as clean as possible. We’ve put strict sterilization protocols into place and are carefully handling patients who may be contagious to ensure that each one of our clinics is safe for those who need urgent medical care or testing.

Don’t put your health at risk by waiting to seek out treatment!

Velocity Urgent Care offers convenient online registration that helps you limit your contact with others during a visit. You can sign up for an appointment online ahead of time and arrive when it’s time to be seen to skip the waiting room. We even offer text message updates so you can wait in the car (if you prefer) until it’s time for your appointment.

Velocity Urgent Care is an in-network provider for most major insurance plans, meaning you can be seen for the cost of your co-pay and deductible. All of our locations also accept Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare. Veterans Administration beneficiaries are also welcome.