Flu season has struck earlier and harder than in recent years, and according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the virus is active and widespread in the region.
Fortunately, there is still time to shield yourself from influenza with a vaccination — the best way to protect yourself, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Peninsula Regional Medical Center will offer a walk-in flu clinic for people age 13 and up on Tuesday, January 15 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Avery W. Hall Education Center building on the PRMC campus, on the corner of Vine Street and Waverly Drive. A $10 donation per person is requested. Flu vaccinations are also available through county health departments.
The syringe version of the flu vaccine is made from an inactive virus, so it won’t give you the flu, but it will help your immune system build up antibodies to fight the virus. Don’t wait to get the shot; the CDC says it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies that provide protection against the influenza viruses to fully develop in the body.
Other simple steps can also help lower the risk of catching the flu virus, which can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people.
The CDC recommends:
- Washing hands frequently and thoroughly (or use an alcohol-based hand wash gel)
- Avoiding close contact with sick people
- Staying home when you are sick, and keep children home from school or daycare
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth, germs’ favorite pathways
- Covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze.
- Practicing other good health habits to keep your immune system strong, like getting a good night’s rest, staying hydrated and eating nutritious foods.
If you go:
- Flu Vaccination Clinic
- Avery Hall Education Center, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury
- Tuesday, January 15, 3-6 p.m.
- No reservations required; a $10 donation is requested (cash only).
- For ages 13 and older.
- For more information, call 410-543-7139.
