Have You Gotten Your Flu Shot Yet? | AFC Urgent Care Memphis

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year.

And anyone who’s had the flu knows you don’t want to get the flu. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Memphis wants to talk about ways to prevent the flu—starting with the flu shot.

How to Prevent the Flu

The flu virus is extremely contagious. It can also be sneaky—those with the virus can pass it along to others even before they know they have the virus.

That’s part of why it’s so important to be vaccinated, since you never know when you’ll come in contact with the virus.

Let’s look at ways you can prevent the flu:

Get a Flu Shot

The same old rumors about the flu vaccine pass around every year. But here are the facts:

  • The flu shot does not cause the flu.
  • The flu shot is not 100 percent effective, but even if you get the flu after the vaccine, the vaccine will lessen the severity and duration of your symptoms.
  • Last year’s vaccine will not protect you this year. Different strains of the virus pop up each year, which is why the vaccine is a different formulation each year.
  • The more people who get a flu shot, the better protected everyone is. Not everyone can be vaccinated, and those people need others’ help to avoid getting the virus.

So protect yourself and others by getting a flu shot today!

Practice Healthy Habits

Once you’ve gotten your flu shot, there are still other ways you can protect yourself from the flu and other illnesses:

Make sure you are always washing your hands before and after meals and when you use the restroom, as well as any time you cough, sneeze, change a diaper, or come in contact with food or door knobs.

Be careful how often you touch your face. We all have the habit of scratching our face or rubbing our eyes without even thinking. However, this is one of the main ways common colds, the flu and other illnesses spread. So wash those hands—and then keep them away from your face!

Eat a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables and stay physically active to help build a strong immune system. Getting plenty of sleep will also help boost your immunity against colds and the flu.

Need a flu shot? No appointment is necessary. Stop by AFC Urgent Care Memphis at your convenience.