Be a flu fighter

Be a flu fighter

Protect yourself and your family against the flu this year. As fall and winter approach, flu season is back, and so are annual vaccines. Flu shots are for everyone ages 6 months and up. Flu shot clinics begin on September 16. Book online or by phone starting September 3 at ARCFluShot.com, through ARC MyChart, or by calling 512-272-4636.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last season's flu vaccinations prevented 65,000 hospitalizations in the United States. Since influenza (flu) virus strains evolve and multiply each year, ARC physicians and APCs recommend receiving your vaccine in September or October to protect you for the entire season.

Already coming in? Get all your shots in one convenient visit.

Ask about the flu vaccine, the new COVID-19 vaccine, and any other needed vaccines at your next primary care or Ob/Gyn visit. With flu, pneumonia, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating around the same time, updated vaccines can help save lives.

What's available this year:

  • Regular flu shot (Fluzone standard dose): Approved for ages 3 years – 49 years.
  • Fluzone preservative-free or Fluzone multidose vial (MDV) if not available: Approved for pregnant women and ages 6 months and older.
  • Flublock high dose: Approved for ages 50 years and older.

Who needs a flu vaccine?

According to the CDC, flu vaccinations are recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older. It is especially important that people in the high-risk group get vaccinated. That group includes:

Note: Egg allergy is no longer considered a barrier to receiving the flu vaccine. According to the CDC, "The ACIP voted that people with egg allergy may receive any flu vaccine (egg-based or non-egg based) that is otherwise appropriate for their age and health status."

Patients who need a two-dose flu shot

Patients 6 months to 8 years old who have had NO prior flu vaccine will need two doses separated by four weeks or more. If a patient has received only one prior flu vaccine in their life, they will also need 2 doses.

Flu shots are not always recommended

Allergy patient alert: If you receive allergy shots, you must wait 24 hours after your flu vaccine before you can resume receiving allergy injections.

Guillain-Barré syndrome: Flu vaccines are not recommended for those who have experienced Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks after a flu vaccine dose. If you experience Guillain-Barré syndrome, some experts recommend avoiding vaccines for the first 12 months to avoid triggering a relapse.

Book now

Beginning September 3, book your flu shot online at ARCFluShot.com, through ARC MyChart, or call 512-272-4636. ARC Flu Shot Clinics start on Monday, September 16.

We open flu clinic schedules 1-3 days in advance, and when they are filled out, we open additional slots. If you do not see availability when you book online, search multiple clinics or check again the next day. Phone schedulers have access to the same slots as your online scheduling, so it's best to book online.

Tags: Flu season, Flu shots, flu vaccine, influenza, vaccines