ALABAMA (WHNT) — Flu season is right around the corner, according to Dr. Wes Stubblefield, a district medical officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health.
He said it’s expected to peak right after the first of the year.
“It takes about two weeks to develop immunity after a flu vaccine, and so if you’re going to get the flu vaccine, now is the time,” said Dr. Stubblefield.
Although it’s rare, he reminds us that the flu can be deadly in some cases.
“If you look across the population, the people at highest risk are people that usually at the extremes of age,” he said. “The very young, older individuals and then those with certain underlying chronic medical conditions.”
Stubblefield said the shot exposes your body to a similar strand of the flu, so it can build antibodies and attack the virus in your system.
“So, the flu vaccine can keep you from getting sick at all, or it can keep you from getting a more severe case of a flu,” he said.
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For those 65 and older, he has a special recommendation.
“There are certain flu vaccines that are recommended for that age group that are slightly different, and so I think it’s important for individuals to ask their vaccine provider if they do have those vaccines,” he said.
Hashan Bhim is a pharmacist at Star Market Pharmacy, who shared that they carry this shot in addition to the regular ones. Bhim emphasized the importance of the vaccine before the holidays.
“We’ll come into contact with a lot of folks that we wouldn’t normally come into contact with through the year, so it offers you protection as well as protecting your family members from the flu virus this year,” he said.
Bhim said Star Market takes walk-ins for shots, and they can get you in and out in 5 minutes. It is one of many places in Huntsville offering free flu shots.
If you need a flu shot and do not have insurance, Dr. Stubblefield said you can reach out to the Alabama Department of Public Health to schedule an appointment.
