Bellin Flu Facts

Your Best Defense Against the Flu: Vaccination

Flu vaccinations are more important than ever! Somewhere between five and 20 percent of the country’s population gets the flu every year, which amounts to millions of cases. For most, the flu is a few days of feeling as if you’ve been hit by a truck. For some, flu leads to dangerous complications.

The single best way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a flu vaccination each year. The "flu shot" — an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease).

Where can I get my flu shot without an appointment?
You can visit any of the three Bellin Health FastCare clinics seven days a week as a walk-in. For a list of the Bellin FastCare clinic locations, click here.

How do I schedule my flu shot with an appointment?
You can visit Bellin’s FastLane drive-thru site at 1920 Libal Street in Green Bay, the quickest and most convenient way to get your flu shot this season. Simply sign in to your MyBellinHealth account and click Visits > Schedule an appointment > Flu Shot OR call (920) 445-7373.

When should I get the flu shot?
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as the vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later. 

Will I be charged for the flu vaccine?
With or without insurance, flu vaccinations will be at no cost to the patient this year.

Flu and COVID-19

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2), and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two. It is also possible to have the flu, as well as other respiratory illnesses, and COVID-19 at the same time. Diagnostic testing can help determine if you are sick with flu or COVID-19.

Will a flu vaccine protect me against COVID-19?
Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19 specifically; however, flu vaccination has many other very important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu, but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources.

Do You Know the Symptoms of Influenza

Influenza (commonly called the "flu") is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Be aware of common flu symptoms

Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:

• Fever (usually high)
• Headache
• Tiredness (can be extreme)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults)

Having these symptoms does not always mean that you have the flu. Many different illnesses, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms.

Think you might have the flu?

It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of symptoms alone, so getting an assessment from a healthcare provider is a good idea, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu. For your convenience, we offer easy-to-schedule video visits to both current Bellin patients and anyone else. Stay in the comfort of your home and receive great care. Visit bellin.org/videovisits.

Those at high risk for complications include people 65 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, and young children.

Know the risks from the flu

In some people, the flu can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Children and adults may develop sinus problems and ear infections.

People may have different reactions to the flu

The flu can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. Although most healthy people recover from the flu without complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications from the flu.

Know how the flu spreads

The flu usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with influenza virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.

Healthy adults may be able to infect others one day before getting symptoms and up to five days after getting sick. Therefore, it is possible to give someone the flu before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick.

–Some content provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention