The flu stops with you

It’s easy to get the vaccine you need to protect yourself — and your family — this flu season

Get your flu shot this year.

Getting a flu shot protects you and those you love against the flu virus throughout the season.

Where to get a flu shot — 3 easy ways

Flu season lasts from September through March. It’s best to get vaccinated before flu season starts — but getting it later is better than not at all. It’s easy to get your free* flu shot at CommunityCare today.

1. Make an appointment

Use the patient portal or call our CommunityCare clinics directly.

Hazleton Family Practice: 570-459-9730
Hazleton Pediatrics: 570-501-7512
Kistler Family Practice: 570-829-2621
Kistler Pediatrics: 570-200-7533
Mt. Pleasant Family Practice: 570-342-8500

2. Get a walk-in flu shot

We also offer walk-in flu shots at CommunityCare during business hours. That’s right, just walk right in and ask for a flu shot.

3. Visit a Saturday event

Come to one of our system-wide Saturday flu shot events from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

Sept. 13
Oct. 4
Oct. 18

Walk-in shots available for those 6 months and older at Kistler clinic. Drive-through shots available at Hazleton and Mt. Pleasant for those 3 years and older.

*No cost to you with most insurance.

How can I prevent the flu?

Getting a flu shot each year is the best way to prevent the flu. You can also avoid the flu (and other bugs) by taking these simple steps:

Wash your hands often with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
Use hand sanitizer when handwashing isn’t an option.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth (until you’ve washed your hands).
Avoid crowds and close contact with those who are sick.

Protect yourself by practicing good health habits, too, like:

Eating a well-balanced diet
Getting enough sleep
Staying physically active
Managing your stress
Cleaning and disinfecting highly touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially if someone is sick

Check your symptoms

Worried you might have the flu or something else? Check the differences and similarities between common symptoms of the flu, COVID and a cold.

Flu symptoms

Flu symptoms typically come on suddenly and include:

Fever or feeling feverish chills (not everyone will have a fever)
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Fatigue
Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

COVID symptoms

COVID is a respiratory illness caused by a different virus than the flu. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Cold symptoms

Like the flu, the common cold is a respiratory illness caused by a different virus. Symptoms of a cold usually come on more gradually and are milder than the flu. They include:

Cough
Mild fever (more common in children)
Runny nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Stuffy nose