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Have you gotten your annual flu shot? It’s not too late. Dec. 4-8 is National Influenza Vaccination Week and the perfect time to roll up your sleeve and get the shot, not the flu.

RiverView Health offers nurse visits Monday through Thursday, 8 am-4 pm, for anyone needing a vaccination. Call 281-9595 to schedule your appointment. You can also get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same appointment.

Laboratory Director Emily Nelson reported on Nov. 27 that positive influenza cases were low, with only three positive cases of Influenza A out of more than 200 specimens tested. However, she added that it’s still early in the season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares the following information regarding flu vaccination.

Flu Shots Benefit You, Your Family, Your Community

An annual flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. When you get a flu vaccine, you reduce your risk of illness, and flu-related hospitalization if you do get sick. A flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself and your loved ones against flu and its potentially serious outcomes.

Getting vaccinated against flu not only protects you but can also help protect your loved ones, like adults 65 years and older and people living with chronic conditions, both groups of people who are at higher risk of having serious flu complications.

Flu Shots Benefit Pregnant Women, Babies

Flu can be especially serious for pregnant women because of changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy that can make them more vulnerable to flu and its potentially severe complications. A flu shot during pregnancy protects you and can help protect your baby from flu for several months after birth, when they’re too young to be vaccinated themselves.

Flu vaccines have safely protected millions of pregnant women and their babies from flu for decades. One study showed fewer cases of infants with flu in mothers who got a flu vaccine compared to mothers who were not vaccinated. This is because, when vaccinated while pregnant, you pass antibodies on to your developing baby.

Flu Shots Benefit Young Children

Children younger than five – especially those younger than two – and children of any age with certain chronic health conditions, like asthma and diabetes, are at a higher risk of developing potentially serious flu complications. Because these groups of children are at higher risk, it is especially important they get a flu vaccine to reduce their risk of getting sick or being hospitalized or dying from flu if they do get sick.

Flu Vaccines are Safe, Effective

Every year, experts update flu vaccines as needed to best protect against the viruses expected to spread during the upcoming season. During seasons when the vaccine viruses are well matched to the viruses that are spreading, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness by 40 to 60 percent. In addition, if someone who is vaccinated gets sick, vaccination has been shown to reduce severity of illness, reducing the risk of serious flu outcomes.

Now is the time to get your flu shot.