Flu (Influenza) Vaccine
Influenza shots (often called flu shots) are vaccines that reduce your risk of flu illness. Influenza is a respiratory illness that can cause fever, chills, cough and fatigue. This is not related to gastroenteritis, which some people call the stomach flu. The flu vaccine is an important step in maintaining your health.
Protect yourself and others by getting your flu shot. It not only reduces your risk of illness but can prevent hospitalizations and death. With COVID-19 circulating at the same time, it's important to decrease the possible negative impacts on your respiratory system.
Below you'll find how to schedule a flu shot near you. If you aren't already vaccinated against COVID-19 or are due for a booster, you can save time by scheduling both during the same visit.
When to Schedule Your Flu Shot
It's best to get your flu shot by the end of October, since this is the month flu activity typically begins increasing. If you miss that deadline and are wondering if it's too late to get your flu shot — don’t worry — you can still get your vaccine later in the season. Flu shots can offer protection for six months, on average, and flu activity historically peaks in February. It's better to get your flu vaccine late than skip it altogether.
Almost everyone, six months and older, should get the immunization. The vaccine is safe and recommended for pregnant women. It is especially important for vulnerable populations, including older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions – like cancer or diabetes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies a few rare exceptions for those who shouldn't get the vaccine, including people who are allergic to the ingredients in the flu vaccine. If you have concerns, talk with your care team.
Not Feeling Well? Here's What to Do.
You might be confused about which virus is making you sick. If it's the flu, there's a good chance you can remember the day and even the hour you began feeling sick. Other illness, including COVID-19, usually set in much more gradually.
Flu symptoms can include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children)
If you're sick, we're here to provide safe care, your way. There are several options to consider if you want to see a doctor. Those include your primary care doctor, urgent care, virtual care and, in severe cases, the emergency department.
FAQs
The flu vaccine is an important step in maintaining your health. In the U.S. alone, 34 - 75 million people get sick from the flu virus each year and thousands of those die. There may be a few rare exceptions, but in general, everyone six months of age and older should get an influenza vaccine every year.
Because the influenza virus can vary from year to year, the effectiveness can fluctuate. The vaccine that comes out each year is the best prediction of what the main circulating viruses will be. No vaccine has 100 percent effectiveness, but the vaccine will likely reduce the severity and length of your illness.
Flu vaccines reduce the risk of illness by up to 60 percent when the vaccine is well matched to the circulating viruses. Even if you do get sick, the chances of severe illness and/or hospitalization is lower with vaccination.
What Type of Appointment Do I Need?
Primary Care encompasses the comprehensive treatment of a number of diseases in symptoms and specialties including pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine. Rather than specializing in one particular area of medicine, the physician is trained to meet all the needs of patients as one point of contact. Same-day appointments may be available. Call your clinic or log in to MyUnityPoint to schedule with your provider or a member of their care team.
Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by a primary care provider can include:
- Allergies
- Cancer screenings (for select cancers)
- Disease management (asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc.)
- Long term care or treatment planning
- Managing existing conditions (migraines, depression, anxiety, arthritis, etc.)
- Medication refill and medicine checks
- Minor medical problems and injuries
- Ongoing symptoms (continued back pain, skin problems, etc.)
- Physicals/sports physicals
- Substance abuse
- Vaccinations
Urgent Care and Express treat minor medical problems and injuries that are not life-threatening, but need the attention of a health care provider. These are not an alternative to the emergency room, but offer the ability to get walk-in care without an appointment for all patient ages. Urgent Care is available after hours, weekends and holidays. Our Urgent Care Clinics can provide medical treatment for minor illness and injuries such as:
- Allergies
- Burns
- Colds
- Coughs
- Cuts (Stitches)
- Earaches or Ear Infections
- Fevers
- Minor Medical Problems and Injuries
- Minor Eye Care
- Flu
- Fractures (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
- Infections
- Sore Throats
- Sprains, Including Sprained Ankles (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
- Yeast Infections
- Certain Rapid Tests
Please note: Flu shots, physicals and/or sports physicals are not offered at every walk-in care location.
*If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, please go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately. For less serious medical issues, such as physicals, medication refills or to leave a message for your primary care doctor, you can access your My UnityPoint patient portal 24/7!
Connect with a UnityPoint Health provider online using MyUnityPoint to access virtual urgent care. Virtual care doctors can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medication when necessary for commonly treated conditions. Available every day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for individuals 2 years and older located in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Virtual care should be used for minor, common ailments and illnesses. Some examples, and the qualifying age to receive virtual urgent care for that condition, include:
| Condition | Virtual Urgent Care |
|---|---|
| Acne | 2+ |
| Burn | 2+ |
| Cold/Flu | 2+ |
| Cold Sores | 13+ |
| Constipation | 2+ |
| Cough/Upper Respiratory Infection | 2+ |
| Diarrhea | 2+ |
| Fever | 2+ |
| Head Lice | 2+ |
| Heartburn | 2+ |
| Headache/Migraine | 18+ |
| Joint Pan | 2+ |
| Rash | 2+ |
| Red Eye | 2+ |
| Sinuses | 2+ |
| Sore Throat | 2+ |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 13+ (female only) |
| Vaginal Infection (yeast/bacterial vaginosis) | 18+ |
| Vomiting | 2+ |
Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for severe or life-threatening conditions. Conditions that require emergency care include excessive bleeding, broken bones, chest pain or trouble breathing. Emergency services include diagnostic testing and access to specialists.
Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by emergency departments can include:
- Symptoms of a heart attack, including severe chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath.
- Profuse bleeding or blood loss that continues even after direct pressure has been placed on the wound.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination, balance or vision problems, which are signs of stroke.
- High fever and vomiting that continues nonstop for several hours.
- Signs of meningitis for adults: severe headaches, neck/joint pain and stiffness, vomiting, high temperature, sensitivity to light or babies and small children: high-pitched whimpering/crying, lethargy, fussiness, restlessness, high fever, vomiting, cold extremities, refusing food, pale or blotchy skin.
- Seizures lasting longer than five minutes.
- Injuries occurring from an accident or fall - intense back or neck pain, obvious compound fractures and/or dislocations of bones, deep cuts and severe burns.