Cleveland Clinic is offering appointment-only community flu vaccination clinics across the region.
Patients can schedule an appointment for these clinics by phone or their MyChart account, or they can receive the flu vaccine at most scheduled in-person office visits with a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, according to a news release, which notes that specific appointment times will be available for patients age 65 and older.
Patients can also call their primary care physician's office to schedule an appointment for a flu vaccination. For children under age three, flu vaccinations may only be scheduled with the patient's primary care provider's office, according to the release.
The clinics will have extra precautions in place to ensure the safety of patients and caregivers, including distanced furniture in common areas, appropriate personal protective equipment, frequent disinfecting and screening patients for COVID-19, according to a news release. Proper hand hygiene, social distancing, staying home when sick can help protect against the flu in addition to COVID-19.
"While COVID-19 has been on the top of people's minds for the past several months, influenza is not a disease that should be taken lightly, as every year thousands of people are hospitalized or die from the illness," said Dr. Steven Gordon, chair of the Department of Infectious Disease at the Clinic, in a provided statement. "We don't have a vaccine for COVID-19 at this time, but we can get vaccinated and protect ourselves against the flu. By getting vaccinated, you're also protecting your loved ones and those around you by lessening the amount of flu that's spread in the community. This is especially important as we are continuing to see community spread and hospitalizations for COVID-19."
The CDC estimates that there were up to 56 million flu illnesses, 740,000 hospitalizations and 62,000 deaths during the 2019-2020 flu season. Though it varies, most seasonal flu activity occurs between October and May.
Infectious disease experts recommend everyone over the age of six months get vaccinated annually. Vaccinations are especially important for adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, children younger than five years, people with chronic medical conditions and others who are at high risk.
The flu, which is contagious and can cause serious respiratory infection, includes symptoms such as: fever, dry cough, headache, sore throat, chills, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite.
