Guadalupe Regional Medical Center | Health Currents | Fall 2020

Catch up on preventive healthcare As we prepare for another possible surge of COVID-19 this fall, we encourage you to continue to prioritize your health by getting regular exercise and well-balanced nutrition and by not postponing routine physician visits and annual screenings. Please consider scheduling your physician appointments now, and do not postpone care. It is in everyone’s best interest to be the healthiest possible at all times, but it is especially important to maintain good health this year! Vaccines We strongly encourage people of all ages to get their annual flu shot. Depending on your health status, you may also want to consider getting vaccinated for pneumonia, shingles and tetanus. Wellness visits with your primary care provider Come prepared with your questions or concerns, be candid about your health, and make sure to discuss needed preventive health screenings. Get a shot, skip the flu Ready or not, another flu season is here. If you dread the thought of getting sick— that’s no fun!—get the flu vaccine. Everyone 6 months and older needs to be vaccinated against the flu every year. Plan to get your vaccination by the end of October, before the flu starts spreading. You need a new flu shot every year because the vaccine may need to be updated to match new viruses. Also, vaccine immunity gradually fades. So last year’s flu shot may no longer protect you. Annual flu vaccinations are especially important for people who are most likely to develop serious complications from the flu. This includes young children; pregnant women; adults 65 and older; and people with certain chronic conditions, including asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Different types of flu vaccines are available. There’s even a needle-free option for some people. Ask your provider what’s right for you. Guadalupe Regional Urgent Care Center at Clear Springs is one of several local providers who offers flu shots. Our urgent care accepts walk- ins and appointments. You can book your appointment online by visiting grmedcenter.com/urgent-care or call 830.433.7816. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Food and Drug Administration 6  | GRMC Health Currents