ThedaCare is urging area residents to protect family, friends and community this winter by getting the influenza vaccination and then encouraging others to do the same by sharing #igottheshot on social media.
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a respiratory illness with coughing, congestion, fever, aches and pains. The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone over the age of 6 months get vaccinated against influenza.
ThedaCare encourages people, when they get their flu shot, to share the news on social media using #igottheshot.
“The hope is people will notice their friends and family members getting vaccinated and then do the same,” said Dr. Adam Olson, a family medicine physician at ThedaCare Physicians-Darboy. “Vaccinations not only protect the person receiving but also slow the spread of the disease in the community, especially helping those who can’t be vaccinated, such as infants or people with compromised immune systems.”
Influenza is a serious illness and shouldn’t be taken lightly, Olson said.
“When people get the flu, they can miss more than a week of school or work,” he said. “The flu can also lead to more serious complications, including pneumonia. People are hospitalized every year because of influenza, and unfortunately, some people even die from it.”
While the CDC recommends the influenza vaccination for everyone, it’s especially recommended for people over the age of 50, children, people with chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes, pregnant women, health care workers, and people who live or work in nursing home facilities since they are more at risk of developing serious complications.
There’s also a vaccine for people who are allergic to eggs, who previously weren’t able to receive the influenza vaccination.
“Don’t wait to get vaccinated until people start getting sick – do it now,” Olson said. “It can take up to two weeks for your body to receive the full immunity from the vaccination. We also can’t predict when flu season will strike – it could come as early as November or sometimes in January. It’s best to do it early and protect yourself.”
For patients over the age of 65, a high-dose vaccination, which has more than four times as much antigen as the regular shot, is available. Most insurance providers and Medicare cover flu shots.
The pneumococcal vaccine is also available for adults. People over the age of 65 are encouraged to receive this vaccination, which helps prevent pneumonia. Medicare covers the cost.
To get their seasonal vaccination, patients can choose to see their ThedaCare Physicians provider, visit a ThedaCare FastCare clinic or attend a ThedaCare At Home flu shot clinic.
Patients can call their ThedaCare physician’s office to schedule appointments to receive their vaccinations. Patients can also walk into one of the two FastCare Clinics, which are in the Shopko in north Appleton and the Shopko Express in Darboy.
People can call the ThedaCare At Home flu clinic hotline at 920-730-3472 for clinic locations and times. No appointment is needed, but everyone must be 18 years or older.
For information, visit www.thedacare.org.
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