It is not too late to get your flu vaccine

Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Wis.  –  Health experts at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals say it is not too late to get a flu vaccine to help prevent illness this winter. The flu season typically peaks from December to March but can continue through May. Staying up to date with your vaccines is critically important to keeping you, your family and community safe. 

“It takes about two weeks for your body to adjust to the vaccine and build up antibodies, so the sooner you get the vaccine the better,” says Infection Prevention Registered Nurse, Lori VanDamme. “If you have not received the flu vaccine for this season, now is still a great time to do so.”  

This year health care providers and communities are worried about the triple threat of COVID-19, flu and RSV. Decreasing your chances for one or two of these illnesses through vaccines greatly increases your chances of a healthy start to 2023. 

Additional ways to protect yourself from the flu and other winter illnesses include: 

• Stay home and avoid close contact when you are sick or around people who are sick. 
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. 
• Wash your hands often to help protect yourself from germs. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. 
• Practice other good health habits such as frequently disinfecting high-touch items, staying active, getting enough sleep, managing stress and maintaining a healthy diet. 

Flu vaccinations are available at your county health department, many retail pharmacies, and through your primary care provider.

Information on this year’s flu season, typical symptoms and other ways to limit the spread of illness can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu. 

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About HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889, it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition.

About HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1885, it has served the people of the Chippewa Falls area with health care that is high tech and high touch. Known locally for the quality of the care it provides patients, the hospital has been recognized nationally for its outstanding patient satisfaction levels. 

About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries,  and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.