Donald Trump, at his second annual checkup of the year, made sure to get a COVID shot and a flu shot, so, you know, so much for the MAHA party line that vaccines cause all manner of death and destruction.
“Flu shots are important because the flu itself is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can cause a severe illness in the patients it affects,” said Robert Garwood, chief medical officer at Sentara RMH Medical Center, which is hosting its annual free drive-through flu shot clinic on Saturday.
Flu shots take time to work effectively – it takes about two weeks after getting the vaccine for your body to build up enough antibodies to protect against the flu.
That’s why it is important to get the shot before the end of October, to make sure you are protected going into the holiday season.
Details
The flu shot clinic begins at 8 a.m. and runs until noon, or until all shots have been given.
There is no charge, and no appointment is needed.
Anyone 18 years and older can receive a free flu shot without leaving their car.
A limited number of Fluad high-dose vaccines will be available for adults 65 and older.
Info: www.sentara.com/flushots
There’s a reason why a self-styled tough guy like Donald Trump would get the jab.
Trump is 79, and he keep talking about how he wants to go to heaven – and there’s a reason he felt pressure to win a Nobel Peace Prize this year, and not being patient enough to wait ‘til next year.
The flu is serious business; it killed 28,000 Americans in the 2023-2024 flu season, and reached a recent high of 52,000 in the 2018-2019 flu season.
The most vulnerable: young children; pregnant women; people with chronic health conditions, like heart disease, lung disease and immunosuppressive disorders; and adults 65 years of age and older.
In essence: don’t dismiss it as “just the flu.”
“Patients who are less than five years of age, or over 65, should seek medical attention, almost immediately,” Garwood said. “Or those patients with severe medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, immunosuppressive disorders. Also, patients with symptoms over five years of age, who develop severe shortness of breath, chest tightness, unrelenting nausea and vomiting, should see medical attention sooner than later.”
While peak flu activity is months away, it’s important to get vaccinated early to reduce the spread of influenza and protect those at risk of severe illness.
“Flu shots themselves are a great means to help prevent getting that disease yourself and spreading it to those you love,” Garwood said.
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Chris Graham
