St. Luke's Offers Flu Shots at Primary Care Clinics
Posted on Sep 11, 2018
By St. Luke's, Duluth
From now through November, flu shots are available at St. Luke’s
primary care clinics during regular clinic hours. To make it convenient
to receive the vaccination, anyone may call to schedule an appointment
during clinic hours or receive the flu shot during a previously scheduled
appointment.
Each year about 1 in 5 people will get the flu and more than 200,000 hospitalizations
result from flu-related complications. With the influenza virus circulating
at a higher rate than normal during the flu season, receiving the flu
vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of contracting the flu
virus and spreading it.
“There’s no way to predict the effectiveness of the annual
vaccine in advance, but even if it’s modest, it saves lives,”
Dr. Andrew Thompson with St. Luke’s Infectious Disease Associates
said. “It may seem too early to get vaccinated, but it’s not.
It’s critical that everyone receive a vaccine before the flu starts
circulating.”
The flu strain is different every year and it affects people differently.
Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone starting at the
age of 6 months receives a flu vaccination.
Flu shots are covered by almost all insurance plans and Medicare. To find
the St. Luke’s primary care clinic closest to you for your flu shot, visit:
www.slhduluth.com/primarycareclinics.
BELOW: Dr. Andrew Thompson, St. Luke's Infectious Disease Associates