Communities and local healthcare providers gear up for flu season

The majority of Hometown Pharmacy's flu shots have been given to older adults because of the high dose shot they carry.

HAMILTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Flu season is ramping up and several healthcare providers are already seeing an influx of sick patients.

And while pharmacies are there to help people who have caught the flu, many are also giving out the shot to prevent the virus from spreading.

Local Pharmacist, Holley Reeves said people are already taking precautions to make sure they have the right antibodies to fight off the virus.

“We’ve had a big influx of people coming in for the flu shots. As soon as the weather turned cold, you know everyone realized it was time,” Reeves said.

The majority of Hometown Pharmacy’s flu shots have been given to older adults because of the high dose shot they carry.

The current flu vaccines are designed to protect a person from several different strains of the virus.

“Hopefully it will lessen the amount of cases we have. We can only hope because every year the strain is different and the vaccines are different,” Reeves said.

When it comes to getting your flu shot, it’s important to get it earlier rather than later.

“Once you get the flu shot it takes time for the antibodies to build up in your system to protect you and that is usually 10 to 14 days so right now people are thinking about Thanksgiving and they are going to be together in big groups and inside so its a good idea to go ahead and get it,” Reeves said.

While the flu shot isn’t a guarantee you won’t catch the virus, Reeves says it’s important, to help stop the spread.

“Just to protect yourself, protect your family, your older relatives, you don’t want to give that to them because it can be harder on them,” Reeves said.

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