Flu Test and Flu Shot NYC

Flu vaccines or flu shots are made from the protein in the coat of the influenza virus and protect against deadly lung infections by influenza viruses. It has to be given every year as the virus coat keeps changing.

There are three types of influenza: influenza A, influenza B, and influenza C. Most colds and sinus infections that we treat are from non-flu viruses. Having a sinus infection by Flu virus is dangerous. Type A flu virus is constantly changing and is generally responsible for the large flu epidemics. Different strains of the flu virus mutate over time and replace the older strains of the virus. This is why it’s important to get a flu shot each year to ensure that your body develops immunity to the most recent strains of the virus. However, there are a number of different strains of the flu virus that may be prevalent at any given time.

A lot of conditions can mimic the flu. You will need to be seen by Statcare’s emergency care professionals and get evaluated to find out if you have influenza or something else. Common influenza (flu) symptoms include headache (head cold), sore throat, fever, chills, and muscle aches.

Everyone should consider getting the flu shot if they meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The flu can be a deadly disease! Visit our Facebook page to read about this and other interesting medical information.

If you got the flu vaccine, you are less likely to get the flu and even if you get influenza, chances are that it will be a mild illness. At Statcare, however, we do see cases of full-blown influenza in patients who got the flu vaccine. It often depends upon what kind of vaccine you got.

At Statcare, our emergency care professionals only use a “combination” season flu shot for adults; this provides immunity against a number of strains of the flu virus. Each year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies strains of the flu virus that are most prevalent at the time, and combination flu shot protects against all of them.

We also provide pediatric flu shots for children. Since there are three types of influenza, you still need to get a vaccine even after you get the flu since you are at risk for other varieties of flu. And the flu can be deadly (check out updates on our Facebook page.)

Yes, that is the purpose of diagnosing the flu. Treatment of the flu is very different from other diseases that mimic the flu. There are anti-flu medicines that we can prescribe for you and your exposed family members.

It depends. You may qualify for influenza prophylaxis. You will need to be seen at Statcare to make that determination.

The flu virus spreads through the air when a patient with flu sneezes, coughs, or talks. Influenza can also be transmitted by objects that an infected patient touched, coughed, or sneezed on. Hand washing is very important in preventing the flu.

By the time you get diagnosed with the flu, you would have already spread it to others. Yes, you pass the flu on before you even know you’re sick. A patient with the flu will remain infectious for up to a week and that’s how flu epidemics often start – from one person to the family and then from the school to the entire community.

While being treated for the flu, you need to stay home and rest for at least 24 hours until after the fever has subsided without taking fever-reducing medications.

No, not at all. The typical flu season runs from October through May, but at Statcare, we have seen cases of flu well into the summer months. These are patients who were tested and confirmed to have influenza A. We do see influenza B and C as well, although not so many. The best time to get vaccinated against the flu is in September or October, but you can still get a flu shot in December or later. It is never too late to come and get that flu shot!

When you come in, let the staff know so you can be fast-tracked right away. Remember, it does take a couple of weeks for you to develop immunity after you get the influenza vaccination. Everyone older than 6 months should get the flu shot. Even pregnant women should be getting vaccinated since they are considered to be at a higher risk of getting the flu as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).