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The 2011/2012 seasonal flu vaccine is now available at Cigna Medical Group and Cigna Medical Group CareToday locations.
If you are a Cigna Medical Group patient, you may call your primary care physician and set up an appointment with your doctor or your doctor's nurse for your seasonal flu vaccine. This year, you will only need one vaccine (H1N1, Brisbane and seasonal are combined into a single shot).
If you are not a Cigna Medical Group patient you may visit any CMG CareToday location near you. Appointments are not needed and CMG CareToday is open after work and on weekends.
Cigna Medical Group supports the recommendation of the CDC that everyone 6 months of age and older to receive a flu shot. The flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during this year's flu season.
Flu activity typically peaks in January and February. However, people do show symptoms as early as October and the virus can continue to occur as late as May. Getting the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available each year is always a good idea, and the protection you get from vaccination will last throughout the entire flu season.
It is important that you speak with your primary care physician if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs, a severe reaction to a previous flu shot, or a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine, before getting your flu vaccine.
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The first thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from the flu is get a seasonal flu vaccine. It is especially important to get a flu vaccine if you have members in your household that are unable to the vaccine (for example if they are under the age of 6 months or have severe allergies to eggs). In addition, you can take everyday preventive steps like staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with the flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading the flu to others.
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Some groups of people may be at higher risk for developing complications from the flu. The list below describes people who should make it a priority to get a yearly flu vaccine:
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- Pregnant women
- People who have medical conditions including:
- Asthma (even if it's controlled or mild)
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
- Chronic lung disease
- Heart disease
- Blood, kidney or liver disorders
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- Metabolic disorders
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
- People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
- People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] of 40 or greater)
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The seasonal flu vaccine cannot cause the flu - you cannot get the flu from receiving the flu vaccine. The virus strains contained in the flu vaccines are inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers test the vaccines to make sure they are safe.
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www.cdc.gov
www.flu.gov
CDC: 800.232.4636
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- Click here for the Cigna Medical Group Saturday walk-in schedule.
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