Schedule Your Flu Shot
Getting a flu vaccine protects yourself and the people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, such as babies and young children, older people and people with certain chronic health conditions. Beginning October 1, 2024, Penn Highlands Healthcare offers the flu vaccine at many sites throughout Pennsylvania.
The flu can make you very sick and make you miss out on many activities such as a school play, football games, holiday parties and more. Rolling up your sleeve to get the vaccine is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of getting sick with the flu.
“Symptoms typically begin about two days after flu viruses infect a person’s respiratory tract,” explained Trina Abla, DO, MBA, System Chief Medical Officer at Penn Highlands Healthcare. “It is possible that an infected person can spread flu viruses to others before symptoms even begin. Also, it is important to note that some people can be infected with flu viruses and be asymptomatic but still spread the virus to others.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu vaccine:
- Can keep you from getting sick with the flu. During seasons when flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses, the vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40% to 60%.
- Reduces the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
- Can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization.
- Provides protection to pregnant women during and after pregnancy, and to their infants in their first few months of life.
- Can be lifesaving in children. A 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe life-threatening influenza by 75%.
Getting the vaccine yourself may also protect people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, such as babies and young children, older people and people with certain chronic health conditions.
Despite the many benefits offered by the flu vaccination, only about half of Americans get an annual flu vaccine. Be among those who get the vaccine. Plan to stay healthy this flu season.
Beginning October 1, 2024, Penn Highlands Healthcare offers the flu vaccine at many sites throughout Pennsylvania including:
- Penn Highlands Retail Pharmacies
- Bennett’s Valley Pharmacy
- Brockway Drug Co.
- McCabe Drug Store
- Means Lauf Super Drug
- Penn Highlands Community Pharmacy – Clarion
- Penn Highlands Community Pharmacy – DuBois
- Penn Highlands Community Pharmacy – Punxsutawney
- Penn Highlands Community Pharmacy – Ridgway
- Penn Highlands Community Pharmacy – State College
- SMP Pharmacy – Kane
- St. Marys Pharmacy
- The following clinics:
- Penn Highlands Family Medicine Clinics
- Penn Highlands Internal Medicine Clinics
- Penn Highlands Lung Center Clinics
- Penn Highlands Rural Health Care Clinics
- Penn Highlands Family Medicine Residency Clinic
To learn more about the flu vaccine, click here.