By Antonia Ehlers

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente will host a free flu vaccination clinic at Rossmoor on Wednesday, Sept. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Event Center.

Shots will be available for Kaiser members and non-members in the Tahoe Room.

Participants can register for the shots starting on Friday, Sept. 3 at 9 a.m. on the MyRossmoor web portal by clicking “Events.” Residents who have not signed up for portal access can do so at www.myrossmoor.com. Residents also can call the Rossmoor front desk at 1-925-988-7700 to book an appointment, starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 3.

Making an appointment will guarantee a vaccination in a timely manner. Those without an appointment should expect longer wait times.

“Flu vaccines are more important than ever because sometimes, sickness can lead to hospitalization and complications that a flu vaccine could have prevented,” said Dr. Rahul Parikh, the physician in charge of COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the Walnut Creek Medical Center.  “If we can say that you’ve been vaccinated against the flu and COVID, we can be a lot more confident that you don’t have a serious illness.”

Influenza has similar symptoms to a cold, but it is more severe. It arrives each winter and leads to high fevers, respiratory symptoms, muscle aches and fatigue.

Why get a flu shot?

The flu is more serious than the common cold, so everyone should do what they can to prevent it. Symptoms often include fever and chills, muscle or body aches, headaches, coughing, sore throat, exhaustion and diarrhea. Most flu-related deaths can be prevented by immunization. The vaccine is safe and has few side effects.

Is a shot necessary every year?

The flu virus changes often and the protection from the vaccine only lasts for about a year. Those not immunized against this year’s expected virus strains are at risk for getting the flu. That’s why a flu shot is recommended every year, preferably in the fall. Since it takes two weeks or longer to develop immunity, it is most ideal to get the shot before the flu season begins.

Who should get a flu shot?

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine.  Vaccination is especially important for people 50 years and older. Even healthy people can develop serious complications or even die from the flu.