You’ll fall ill with influenza (better known as the flu) when the virus infects your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza symptoms will be sudden, last up to seven days and can be mild to miserable. You may have a fever, chills, sore throat, sinus congestion, muscle aches or fatigue. You’re most likely to get influenza from someone who is ill, which means you can also spread it. And that’s why it’s important you’re vaccinated against influenza each year at a flu shot clinic near you.
The flu vaccine is the best prevention against influenza. We recommend everyone 6 months and older get the vaccine, but it is especially important to protect yourself with the vaccine if you’re:
- A child
- Pregnant
- Age 50 or older
- Have chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease
- Live in a nursing home
- Work in healthcare
- Your Primary Care provider
- Gundersen La Crosse ExpressCare Clinic
- Gundersen Pharmacies located at:
- For our other locations, please call the Gundersen facility closest to you for vaccine scheduling details.
Antiviral medications can help if there is a risk of severe illness or there is close contact with individuals at high risk for flu complications. Treatment can help if you’re:
- Seriously ill
- Pregnant
- Older than 65 years old
- Younger than 2
- Immunocompromised
- Have co-morbidities that increase your risk for severe complications, including lung disease, cardiac disease and obesity
- Sick and living with someone who is a higher risk of severe complications from influenza, including expecting mothers and those who are immunocompromised
- Working in healthcare
- Working in a nursing home