NOTE: This is The Batavian's first "Ask the Local Doctor" column sponsored by Insource Urgent Care. We announced the column and then no questions came in, or so we thought. Their e-mail forwarding wasn't set up right so we didn't see the questions. We actually received about a dozen questions. Those questions have been forwarded to the professional staff of Insource Urgent Care and will be considered for next week's column and subsequent columns.
This column is by Dr. Magdi Credi and it answers the question, should I get a flu shot?
The influenza season is upon us.
Here at Insource Urgent Care the vaccine is being offered for those who are 4 years and older. Unbeknownst to many, influenza is still the most prevalent disease in the United States of all the vaccinated diseases.
About 200,000 persons in the United States will be hospitalized yearly due to influenza. Up to 49,000 deaths occur yearly on American soil due to the flu. Because of this, we here at Insource are doing our best to protect you.
The Center for Disease Control currently recommends all persons older than 6 months be vaccinated. The more persons vaccinated the less chance of the flu.
In particular, two groups are strongly encouraged to obtain the flu shot: those who are at high risk of complications (i.e. pneumonia) and those who care for others at high risk. This would include the following: Parents and caretakers of children less than 6 months of age, pregnant women, persons less than 5 years old or older than 65 years old, and persons with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and COPD to name a few. This list is not all inclusive and can be checked out on the CDC’s Web site www.cdc.gov for more information.
If still unsure of your risk or need, please stop by our medical office for clarification. We are here to provide top medical care for you and to protect both you and your family.
This post is sponsored by Insource Urgent Care, 35 Batavia City Centre, Batavia, (585) 250-4201. To submit a question to Ask the Local Doctor, e-mail askthedoc@thebatavian.com.
Good question, great answer.
Good question, great answer. Influenza is a killer.
Excellent service to your readers, Batavian.
Howard and I always get a flu
Howard and I always get a flu shot every year and I can't remember the last time I had the flu, so it must have been a loooong time ago. WTTW...
Back in the 1970's when I
Back in the 1970's when I worked for the Big Yellow Box making Vacuum Cleaners that they called Camera's because they sucked more than any other company out there in the free marketplaces, they gave away the flu shots for free, & every year preceding that I never got the flu or even anything such as a cold.. But, THAT year I suffered with the flu & lost time from work because of it, & even after that, every time I got a flu shot, I GOT the flu, & if I skipped a year, I was fine.. Going forward now to 2005! The last time I got a free flu shot was 8 years ago & Margie administered the shot & it was combined with a Pneumonia shot also. I did NOT get the flu & felt wonderful all winter, & the following year they said they were then going to combine the H1N1 shot with the regular flu shot & I refused to take it, & everytime since then, when I was in for a medical appointment they asked & I said NO.. They were making sure that everyone that worked at the VAMC in Batavia was getting/taking the shot but, us vets didn't have to have one, I won't take it because it has 3 times the normal amount of Mercury in it & IF I can't eat fish I catch from Lake Ontario with that much Mercury in them, I sure ain't gonna let them inject me with that crap either.. I have NOT had the flu since I stopped taking the government supplied flu shots back in 2005, even though they are free for the asking.. If I wanted to subject myself to that way of dying, I have a .50 calibre handgun that will do the trick faster & quickerer than getting a damn flu shot!!
Gotta say, very nice
Gotta say, very nice experience -- and I'm not just saying it because Insource is an advertiser -- with Insource yesterday. Billie and I went there after we voted yesterday for our flu shots. Friendly staff. Fast, easy experience, and we saved $10 over our previous provider.