Get your flu shot before the holidays

LTC Jay Shiffler — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:29:04 -0500

By Jay Shiffler
Communications specialist and Veteran, VA’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Get your flu shot before the holidays to best protect yourself and the people you care about. When you get your flu shot, you reduce your risk of getting sick with flu. You will also help to reduce the spread of flu so that you and your loved ones can enjoy a healthier holiday season together.

With holiday gatherings approaching, you can also do your part to best protect yourself and others from COVID-19. When you stay up to date with an updated bivalent COVID-19 booster dose, you will be protected against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and its Omicron variants.

You can safely receive both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine during the same visit to your provider.

Get your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine before the holidays

Both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine are essential to protecting yourself during this holiday season. They not only increase your chances of staying healthy, but also have been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death from illness.

In addition, these vaccines will help you provide a safe environment for your loved ones who are more at risk, such as pregnant women, older adults and those with chronic diseases.

With the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, you can protect yourself, those you love, and those around you during this holiday season.

Learn more at Flu And COVID-19: One Visit, Two Vaccines | https://rly.pt/FLUandCOVID

Flu and COVID-19: one visit, two vaccines | Veterans Affairs

Response by COL Randall C. made Dec 9 at 2022 3:51 PM

COL Randall C. — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:51:58 -0500

Don't forget the shingles vaccination if you're over 50!
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/expert-answers/shingles-vaccine/faq-20057859

Shingles vaccine: Should I get it?

People who are age 50 and older should get the shingles vaccine to prevent shingles.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2022 4:23 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:23:38 -0500

Thanks for the info LTC Jay Shiffler

Response by SPC Maurice Evans made Dec 9 at 2022 9:02 PM

SPC Maurice Evans — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 21:02:49 -0500

Have got every shot the VA offers. Been shot so many times I ask my nurse where is my purple heart.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Dec 10 at 2022 5:05 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 17:05:20 -0500

Most important part for the flu shot is that is covers the most prominent flu strains and that you can still get the flu. If you get the shot and still get the flu, generally the symptoms are less and to not lose faith in the shot. No vaccine is fool proof but generally your life will be better if you get vaccines than avoid them.

Response by TSgt James Herslebs made Dec 12 at 2022 10:59 AM

TSgt James Herslebs — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:59:17 -0500

Because I'm over 50 at my last checkup they offered me the pneumonia shot as well as the flu shot. The shingles shot too! I felt like an old pincushion!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2022 12:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:39:20 -0500

Just ask for the all in 1 cocktail lol!

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Dec 20 at 2022 6:26 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 06:26:53 -0500

Flu, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines should be on your list when recommended.