COVID, Flu and now Monkeypox, oh my! What a trifecta with the chance of ruining our holiday season again. Last year, many of you skipped out on your flu shots and COVID booster shots. Let’s not make the same mistake this year! 

AFC Urgent Care Marlborough is ready to help our friends and families in the Marlborough community get their flu shots. We also offer COVID-19 testing to help give you a peace of mind this winter season. 

AFC Urgent Care Marlborough Offers The Updated 2022 Flu Shot

Flu shots are made months in advance to combat strains of influenza that may appear this flu season. All of our AFC Urgent Care locations in Massachusetts are offering the highly effective Quadrivalent flu shot for the 2022 flu season.

This year there are a few updates to the Flu vaccines for the 2022/2023 season. 

• The egg-based H1N1 vaccine component was updated from an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus to an A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus.
• The cell- or recombinant-based H1N1 vaccine component was updated from an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus to an A/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus.
• The egg-based H3N2 vaccine component was updated from an A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus to an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus.
• The cell- or recombinant-based H3N2 vaccine component was updated from an A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus to an A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus.
• The B/Victoria lineage vaccine component was updated from a B/Colorado/06/2017 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus to a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
• The B/Yamagata lineage vaccine component was not updated.

Why Should I Get A Flu Shot And COVID-19 Booster Shot? 

Mask mandates have been lifted for most places and if you remember last year, many of you got sick because you didn’t get your annual flu shot or COVID-19 booster shot. Vaccines usually take a FULL 14 days to build full immunity, which is why we suggest getting them soon so that you can avoid getting others sick during the holiday season. Last year, we had to cancel our favorite holidays because of Omicron and the flu.

For those of you who are young and healthy, your flu shot counts too, if not more because you are going around seeing friends, family and going to populated places that may be a breeding ground for both viruses. 

Let’s Not Forget About Monkeypox

In recent months, The CDC has reported an outbreak of Monkeypox in several states in the U.S. and in multiple countries throughout the world. Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus in the orthopoxvirus group, which includes smallpox. It’s very common in places such as Africa, but because it has spread to the U.S. in recent months, it has raised an alarm for the health and safety of our friends and families in the Malden community. 

Monkeypox is not a virus to ignore or to stereotype. It does not matter what your sexual orientation is or what country you are from; you can still contract Monkeypox in many ways with direct contact being the most common way of contracting it. Other ways include: respiratory droplets, sharing objects/clothing, hugging, kissing, and even through sex.

For information on the latest COVID booster and the Monkey Pox vaccine centers, please visit your local pharmacy or check the Massachusetts DPH website for a link to available locations.

Now Offering The Effective Quadrivalent Flu Shot And COVID-19 Testing For The 2022 Flu/Winter Season

AFC Urgent Care Marlborough encourages families and friends in the Marlborough community to get vaccinated for the Flu to rule it out this winter. You can walk-in or make an appointment online to get your flu shot and for any other urgent care services.

AFC in Marlborough also offers COVID-19 testing 7 days a week with results on the same day with our Rapid COVID-19 testing services.

Come see us any day of the week. Our hours: M-F 8am-8pm and weekends from 8am-5pm.