Flu shots at the airport
I was back in Chicagoland this week, and as I made my way through the airport last night on my way home, I noticed a flu shot kiosk in Terminal 2. The University of Illinois Medical Center has a clinic at O’Hare airport, and in the fall they set up kiosks in the terminal to encourage travelers to stop and get a flu shot. Since getting a flu shot is on my to-do list every year (I have asthma and prefer to reduce my risk of catching any illness that messes with my respiratory system) I decided to stop and get a shot last night. The cost was $35, which was probably a bit more than I would have paid at my doctor’s office, but the convenience factor was worth the added expense. It took less than five minutes to complete the little release form, pay the fee, and get the shot — all in all, an easy way for harried travelers like myself to take care of this essential task.
If you travel as much as I do, or even if you don’t, consider getting a flu shot. There’s no vaccine shortage this year, so pretty much anyone who wants a flu shot can get one. The vaccine is made from a killed virus, so there is no chance of getting the flu from the shot itself. It’s worth it… if you haven’t experienced the bone-crushing aches, bouncing fever, and lung-shattering cough of a full-blown attack of the flu lately, you may not recall how wretched it can be. Get the shot — especially if you travel. It will help you stay healthy this winter and, by extension, help you avoid spreading the flu to others.
Here’s an article that appeared in USA Today last year about airport flu shot clinics.
