Empower Your Health: Embrace National Influenza Vaccination Week

National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 4 – 8) is an important reminder for all of us to prioritize our well-being during the upcoming winter and holiday season. At the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, we passionately support influenza vaccination because we know how well it protects individuals and communities alike.

As the winter chill sets in and holiday festivities begin, it becomes especially important to safeguard ourselves against the influenza virus. The flu season usually peaks between December and February, making this time especially important for vaccination.

Here’s why vaccination matters:

Protecting Yourself and Your Community

Annual vaccination is the first line of defense against the flu. Along with protecting yourself, getting vaccinated helps to keep your community safe. Vulnerable groups, like older adults and people with chronic illnesses, benefit significantly when more people around them get vaccinated—lowering their risk of severe complications.

Shielding Pregnant People and Children

Pregnant people face higher risks during flu season. Vaccination not only reduces their likelihood of catching the flu, but also keeps them from getting seriously ill. Vaccination also spreads protection to infants who are too young to receive the vaccine themselves, shielding them against serious illness.

Safety and Effectiveness

Backed by decades of research, the flu vaccine is a proven and safe way to fight the virus. Each year, the vaccine is adjusted to target major strains of the virus during peak flu season. As a person’s immunity reduces over time, these annual updates are essential to boosting your immunity into the future.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends influenza vaccination for everyone aged six months and older. The vaccine not only decreases the risk and severity of the flu, but also lowers the number of people who need to go to the hospital for treatment. Act now to make sure you and your loved ones are protected this influenza season.

Since 1971, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center has been dedicated to providing vital health care services, including access to vaccinations, to Asian Americans and underserved communities. Our clinicians are currently offering influenza vaccination services. For more information or to schedule your vaccination, please contact us at 646-984-4292.