Where to Get Flu Vaccines Locally (and Tips from a Local Doctor)

(Scroll down to find where to get flu vaccines locally.)

The flu season started earlier than usual this year, according to a doctor at St. Clair Hospital.

Dr. Emily Brown said in December that she had seen an "uptick" in the amount of patients coming to the hospital in late November and early December with flu-like symptoms.

Brown estimated then that there had been 70 cases at the hospital, compared to none by that time last year.

"The flu season was just later in the year last year," Brown said. "We'll see if it'll be worse or if it's just earlier."

There is no shortage of the flu vaccine, so Brown suggested that everyone get a vaccination shot. The best time to get one was earlier this fall before flu season began, she said, but it's still not too late to get vaccinated.

"For the healthy person," Brown said, "it's mostly an annoyance, but if you have any underlying diseases, it can be dangerous."

Brown also said that proper hand-washing can be just as important to prevent getting the flu as receiving the vaccine is.

"It's simple infection control," she said. "Hand-washing, besides the flu shot, is the most important thing you can do."

Most people can get a flu shot at their local pharmacies, primary care physicians' offices and, often, workplaces.

According to http://flushot.healthmap.org, these are the places in Baldwin-Whitehall offering flu shots (prices vary):

• Rite Aid (Caste Village), Whitehall Borough
• Rite Aid (Keeport Drive), Baldwin Borough
• CVS (Route 51), Baldwin Borough

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