Vaccination Can Prevent Virus, Help Limit Severity  

ROME, Ga., Sept. 4, 2024 – Flu season will be here before you know it, and providers at Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care are again urging people to get vaccinated.

Millions of people fall ill with the flu every year. Getting a flu vaccine can help you stay healthy, and even if you do get the flu, the vaccine can limit the severity of the symptoms.

It can take up to two weeks for your body to develop an antibody response to the flu vaccine, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting your shot before the flu season starts so you are protected throughout most of the fall and winter.

Like many viruses, the flu can present many symptoms, including:

• Fever or chills
• Headaches
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Tiredness
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

 In some cases, the flu can cause severe complications, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, please speak to a doctor or nurse right away.

“Everyone older than 6 months should go ahead and get the flu vaccine," said Nurse Practitioner Kimberly Clark, FNP-BC, who sees patients at Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care in Taylorsville. “You might think of the flu as just another illness but people over the age of 65, young children and people with certain health conditions are at a higher risk of serious flu complications."  

Flu cases typically start rising seriously in November and continue to spread through February or March. A rise in cases is often reported during the winter holidays, when people gather for events and parties, and when school is out.

The CDC says flu leads to between 140,000 and 810,000 hospitalizations in a typical year.

Clark says these practices can also help prevent the spread of the flu:

• Stay home if you're sick.
• Steer clear of others when they're sick.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Don't touch your face or rub your eyes.
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Don't share food or beverages with others.
• Use antibacterial wipes to clean surfaces.

You can also take steps to build up your immune system to help your body fight the flu and other illnesses.

• Maintain a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid processed foods and sugary drinks.
• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
• Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
• Exercise for 40 minutes four times a week, even if it's just taking a moderate or brisk walk.

 Contact your Atrium Health Floyd primary care provider to get your flu shot. Find a provider at floyd.org/primarycare. 

About Atrium Health Floyd
The Atrium Health Floyd family of health care services is a leading medical provider and economic force in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,500 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center – a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia; and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health – a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility in Rome – and also primary care and urgent care network locations throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd also operates a stand-alone emergency department in Chattooga County, the first such facility to be built from the ground-up in Georgia.

About Atrium Health 
Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created from the combination with Advocate Aurora Health. A recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is its academic core. Atrium Health is renowned for its top-ranked pediatric, cancer and heart care, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Atrium Health is also a leading-edge innovator in virtual care and mobile medicine, providing care close to home and in the home. Ranked nationally among U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals in eight pediatric specialties and for rehabilitation, Atrium Health has also received the American Hospital Association's Quest for Quality Prize and its 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, as well as the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Equity Award for its efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care. With a commitment to every community it serves, Atrium Health seeks to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all, providing $2.8 billion last year in free and uncompensated care and other community benefits. 

About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits.