Flu season is a good time to take a few simple steps to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness that can range from mild discomfort to more serious complications. The best defense is a yearly flu vaccine.
This post is a quick refresher. For the full picture, including flu myths and facts and a simple family plan, see our complete flu season guide.
Why should you get a flu shot?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone aged six months and older. Here is why it matters:
- It reduces your risk. The flu vaccine is your first line of defense, lowering the chance of flu-related illness, hospital stays, and serious complications.
- It protects others. Getting vaccinated helps safeguard the people around you, including young children, pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with a chronic health condition.
- It lowers severity. Even if you do catch the flu, being vaccinated can make your illness milder and shorter.
Each year’s vaccine is updated to match the flu viruses expected to spread that season, which is why a fresh shot every fall is recommended. The best time to get vaccinated is by the end of October, but it is never too late as long as the flu is going around.
How can you prevent the flu?
A shot is the most effective step, and a few everyday habits help keep germs from spreading:
- Wash your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based sanitizer when a sink is not handy.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your elbow, and toss the tissue right away.
- Keep your distance when sick. Stay away from others when you are unwell, and give sick family members space.
- Let in fresh air. Good ventilation and outdoor time lower the chance of passing respiratory illness around.
For more on how germs move and how to stop them, see our guide to infection prevention.
Who is most at risk from the flu?
Some people are more likely to get seriously ill, including older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with ongoing health conditions. Babies under six months are too young for the vaccine, so the best way to protect them is to make sure everyone around them is vaccinated. The same goes for caregivers and anyone in a long-term care setting.
Adults 65 and older can also ask about the high-dose flu vaccine, which is designed to give older adults stronger protection. HNJH offers it during flu season.
If your child has a breathing condition, the flu can be harder on them, and our asthma and allergy care team can help you plan for the season.
What should you do if you get sick?
Most healthy people recover at home with rest and plenty of fluids. If you or a family member is at higher risk, call your provider early, because antiviral medicine works best when it is started within the first two days of symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, body aches, and fatigue, and reach out right away if symptoms feel severe or are not improving. We are here when you need us.
Where to get your flu shot at HNJH
HNJH makes it easy to get your flu shot close to home. During flu season, we hold walk-in flu clinics at the Gibson Family Health Clinic in Newberry and the Manistique Lakes Family Clinic in Curtis. No appointment is needed for those clinics.
If another location is easier for you, or you would like your shot at a regular visit, call your primary care provider’s office and ask. The HNJH Pharmacy can also help you find the right option. A flu shot pairs easily with your yearly wellness visit, too, which you can read about in our grown-up checkup guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to get a flu shot?
Aim for the end of October, before flu activity picks up. If you miss that window, still get one, since the shot helps as long as the flu is spreading, often into early spring.
Can the flu shot give me the flu?
No. The vaccine is made so it cannot infect you. Some people have a sore arm or feel tired for a day, which is the body building protection, not the flu.
Where can I get a flu shot near Newberry?
Helen Newberry Joy Hospital offers flu shots at the HNJH Pharmacy, the Gibson Family Health Clinic and Walk-In, and our community clinics across the eastern UP. Call 906.293.9233 to schedule.
Take the next step
The flu is a lot easier to prevent than to sit through. A quick shot, a few good habits, and a simple plan are all it takes to keep your family well this winter. Schedule your flu shot at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital, and let’s get through this season together, right here in your community. Your Health. Our Passion.
