Flu vaccines available at ACMC Family Health Centers
With influenza season quickly approaching, Ashtabula County Medical Center now offers flu vaccines for adults and children. The vaccines are available by appointment with a family medicine or internal medicine provider at an ACMC Family Health Center in Ashtabula, Conneaut, Geneva, Jefferson, or Orwell.
ACMC will also offer the flu vaccine at several flu shot clinics throughout October at Ashtabula Family Health Center. An appointment is required for the flu shot clinic to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and safety measures. Flu shot clinics are offered from 1 to 4 p.m. on October 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 25 with a special pediatric flu shot clinic offered in The Ashtabula Clinic Pediatrics office from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Oct. 16. To schedule an appointment for the flu shot clinic or with a family medicine or internal medicine provider, call 440-997-6969. Additional flu shot clinic dates will be listed at www.acmchealth.org.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone over the age of six months old receive a flu shot annually. Flu shots can reduce the amount of time missed from work or school due to flu-related illness and reduce the number of visits you need to make to a medical provider.
Flu symptoms include fever, headaches and body aches, chills, congestion, and coughs. It usually last 5 to 7 days and is contagious, which means it spreads easily from person to person. Infants, children with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, senior citizens, and adults who have chronic lung problems can suffer more from flu symptoms and may require hospitalization. This is why it is important that family members and other caregivers have the flu vaccine, too.
To minimize the risk of spreading the flu, ACMC physicians recommend that people wash their hands frequently during cold and flu season (October through May); cough into your arm or elbow; and stay home from work or school to limit exposure of others.
The influenza vaccine will not prevent COVID-19. It is okay to get the influenza vaccine close to when you get a COVID-19 vaccination.