Guthrie offering flu shot clinics in the Twin Tiers

TWIN TIERS ( WETM ) – With Flu season just around the corner, Guthrie is reminding everyone that it’s time to get the yearly flu shot.

The Flu season usually lasts from October all the way through May. Historically, most people get the Flu in February and the other winter months. Symptoms include a fever, body aches, cough and a stuffy nose. These symptoms can be mild or severe.

“The advantage then of actually getting the Flu vaccine is this could keep you from getting sick. So, those individuals that do tend to get flu even though they may have had a vaccine it does tend to keep the infection much milder and help you in the event that you do eventually get sick. One of the common misconceptions with the Flu shot or the Flu vaccine is that if you get the Flu vaccine that there’s no way that you’ll get the Flu. Well, I’m gonna tell you that potentially you could still get the Flu. In addition, I often will hear ‘Well, I don’t want to get the Flu shot because when I got the Flu shot in prior years, it gave me the Flu and that’s probably one of the most common misunderstandings that I actually manage through on a regular basis is to explain to individuals that you can’t get the Flu from the Flu shot,” said Guthrie Family Medicine Specialist Dr. Christopher Andres.

People most at risk are seniors, young children and people that are pregnant. Dr. Christopher Andres says most people 6 months and older should get the flu shot and it’s best to get it before flu season actually starts so your body can build up immunity.

“Within the last four years, we have had periods of less Influenza. So with that, individuals tend to get a little complacent and they say ‘Oh, the flu’s not that bad. You know, I didn’t know anybody that had the flu last year. So, why should I get a shot because I’m not going to get, you know, why am I going to do something where it’s not needed?’ But, one of the things I like to remind people, well you know it is truly needed. The Flu’s not going to go away. Flu is going to be here,” said Dr. Andres.

There are several Community Flu Shot Clinics coming up in Big Flats, Corning, Southport and Wellsboro. For the full list of Guthrie Community Flu Shot Clinics, click here .

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