YES! You should get a flu shot!

Experts are predicting a bad flu season, and Drs. Bradley, Gaskin and Halpern strongly urge you to get a flu shot.

COVID continues to put stress on the heath care system in Savannah, South Georgia and the Low Country. The best way you can help is to avoid the hospital. Unfortunately, we are expecting a particularly severe cold and flu season. Please consider getting a flu shot today.

Why is flu season expected to be bad this year?

Schools and businesses have reopened. People are traveling again. But some of us seem to have let our guard down against COVID-19.

Usually, the seasonal wave of influenza is easier to handle when some portion of the population has a natural immunity from getting exposed or infected in the previous year. Since many Americans spent last fall and winter quarantined and/or socially distanced, fewer people than normal came down with the flu. That means an above-average number of people are at risk for contracting the flu now.

Experts are therefore predicting that the cold and flu season could be worse than usual.

Who should get a flu shot?

All persons aged 6 months of age and older are recommended for annual flu vaccination, with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for our senior citizens, patients with chronic conditions, and other people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.

Is it safe to get a flu shot at the same time I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Absolutely. The CDC has said that it is now perfectly fine to get your COVID-19 vaccine (first shot, second shot, or booster) at the same time as you receive your flu shot. We are making that easy: just click here and schedule a flu shot. We can talk about your vaccine status at that time and discuss whether or not you qualify for a COVID-19 booster shot.

Who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster now?

The CDC’s new guidance allows third doses of the Pfizer vaccine for people 65 and older. People living in long-term care settings and those 50 to 64 with underlying conditions qualify. Several other groups of people, including those in high-risk occupational and institutional settings (hospitals and doctors offices, for instance) are also eligible for booster shots.

How do I schedule an appointment to get a flu shot and/or COVID-19 vaccine?

As we enter the colder months of fall, doctors are urging people to get their flu shot in order to cut down on hospital visits.

• If you have not had your COVID-19 shots, now is the time: click here to sign up.
• If you would like to get on the waiting list for a COVID-19 booster: click here.
• And if you would like to self-schedule your flu shot for 2021: click here.

Thank you for your help,

Your Savii Health Team