Get Vaccinated Berkshires

GetVaccinatedBerkshires is a collaborative effort of the Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative. This website is intended to be a “one stop shop” for vaccine-related information and clinic sign-ups.

Influenza (Flu)

The flu is one of the most common infectious diseases we continue to fight. It rapidly mutates and people can easily to spread it between themselves before realizing they are infected. Symptoms of the flu can be burdensome and include coughing and sore throat, congestion, muscle aches, headaches, and fever. Not everyone will experience symptoms equally, and most people recover from the flu after about two weeks. However, some cases go on for a prolonged period, resulting in long-term complications such as sinus an ear infections or pneumonia.

Because of this, the flu vaccine is recommended yearly to everyone over the age of 6 months.

Everyone is susceptible to the flu, but it can impact people with pre-existing health conditions much more than those without. People with chronic conditions such as COPD, asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, or people who are immunocompromised can experience stronger flu symptoms and are at higher risk of developing complications resulting from the flu.

The best ways to prevent the flu are as follows:

1) Get vaccinated every year.

2) Practice good hygiene. Make sure to regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap, cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing, and avoid touching your face, especially when in public places.

3) Limit contact with sick people. Close contact with people who are already infected (whether or not they are showing symptoms) puts you at risk of getting sick yourself. Crowded places lead to a higher chance of catching an infection. Bonus tip: If you yourself are already sick, please consider avoiding crowded areas as you could be the one spreading the flu!