Residents have the opportunity to get free flu shots for the family this Saturday at a special drive-through flu shot clinic at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County. The department will host the drive-through clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Ocala location (1801 SE 32nd Ave.) The department is hosting the Saturday clinic to help reduce the flu’s impact on area residents.
Flu activity is increasing in Marion County. Local emergency rooms are reporting an average of 57 flu cases per day since Jan. 15. In comparison, those same facilities reported an average of 20 per day in the first half of January and approximately 8 per day in December.
“Prevention is one of the best ways to fight the flu, and there are two key components to that – getting a flu shot and practicing good hygiene,” said Florida Department of Health in Marion County Health Officer Mark Lander. “The flu shot will provide you with one layer of protection against germs and continued handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes and disinfecting commonly used surfaces will provide the other layer of protection.”
Residents are encouraged to get their flu vaccine shot now if they haven’t gotten one already. There are still weeks of flu activity to come (and plenty of opportunities to become ill). Flu vaccines continue to be the best way to prevent influenza infection and serious influenza complications.
It’s important to see your health care provider if you become sick with flu-like symptoms. These symptoms typically come on quickly and may include: fever, chills, sore throat, cough, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue, and (more common in children) vomiting or diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health care providers can prescribe antiviral treatment if appropriate.
Treatment is most effective when started within 48 hours, so calling as soon as you become ill is important, especially if you or your loved one is at a higher risk for complications. Children younger than 5, adults over the age of 65, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical conditions are considered most at-risk.
It’s important to stay home from work and keep children home from school or daycare when sick to avoid spreading the flu to others. The department recommends that sick people stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
