Flu season is among us as winter approaches. In order to stay healthy, it is recommended that you get a flu shot.
Flu shots are the most effective way to prevent the influenza virus. The shot protects you against the virus that causes flu-like symptoms of a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and body aches.
Flu shots will be offered at ACPS Central Office on Thursday, November 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 420-9. The vaccinations are free with the following insurances: United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Express Scripts, Federal Blue Cross.
The discounted clinic flu shot is $25.99 ($31.99 at the store) and may be paid with cash or check at the time the service is rendered. Please sign up to receive your flu shot at 5th floor reception.
The most common misconception of the flu shot is that the vaccination will give you the flu. There are a few reasons you could get sick with flu-like symptoms after you’ve received a flu shot:
- It can take a couple of weeks for the body to become protected from influenza after getting vaccinated. It is possible to become infected during this time.
- Many viruses can cause flu-like symptoms. Even though you feel like you have the flu, a different virus could have caused the infection.
- The influenza vaccine protects us against the three or four most common strains predicted to cause illness in any given season, thus it is possible that you can have a strain of the flu that wasn’t covered by the vaccine.
Every year, ACPS nurses offer flu shot clinics at their schools. This year, 283 people received a flu shot provided by the ACPS flu shot clinic.