It's that time of year again — cold and flu season. Before the coughs and sniffles start to circulate, Bloomington Public Health is stepping up to offer a solid defense: community flu shot clinics. A jab of the annual flu vaccine is touted as the frontline strategy to keep the flu at bay and reduce the risk of severe illness and potential hospital stays.
Local Bloomington resident Barbara Olson is ready to roll up her sleeve, emphasizing the communal effort. "I think it [an annual flu shot] is part of staying healthy, part of taking care of yourself, that’s why I do it," Olson expressed to the City of Bloomington's official site. "I don’t want to take anything home to my family, nor do I want them to bring anything home to me … we each do our part!" Making perceiving influenza as not just a personal concern but a community-wide responsibility.
The clinics, organized this fall by Bloomington Public Health, aim to make getting your flu shot as hassle-free as possible. An appointment can be scheduled by visiting blm.mn/clinics or calling them at 952-563-8900—opt for the flu vaccination choice. In a bid to bolster immunity across the board, the clinics are also offering updated COVID-19 shots.
And for those wondering about convenience, there's good news: your flu shot might just be a short trip to your local pharmacy away. With options open at medical providers and local pharmacies, getting vaccinated against the flu is becoming as easy as picking up a prescription or shopping for your essentials, making excuses harder to come by when opting out. So, check with your primary care provider or swing by your nearby pharmacy and ask about flu shots, as recommended by Bloomington Public Health.
