COVID Booster shots and flu vaccines? What’s next? Monkeypox! The recent outbreak has raised concern for many of us in the Worcester and surrounding MA areas. This trifecta of viruses can potentially threaten your winter holiday plans! Lucky for you, AFC Urgent Care Worcester now offers the quadrivalent flu shot and COVID-19 testing to help you have peace of mind when visiting your families and friends this winter holiday season. Here’s what you ...
BUZZ BUZZ! We hear them buzzing! There are a number of kids and parents coming in with painful and sore welts from stings this time of year, which is known as “Angry Bee Season”. The bees and wasps don't seem to care that it's the new school year! Around this time of the year, stinging bees and wasps become very aggressive because they are preparing their queen for the winter, and are more ...
Getting your child a physical before the school year begins is going to help them prepare for the unexpected colds, flu, injuries, and help diagnose any underlying issues that may be lying in wait. At the same time, it’s also a good way to build your child’s medical file so that incase of the unexpected, a doctor can treat them right away. Whether your child plans on joining a fall sport or needs ...
It’s UV Safety Awareness month, and you know what that means? It’s time to learn about the dangers of UV rays and how to avoid them this summer. Why? Because UV rays can cause a number of problems for your skin, including sunburn, heat exhaustion, and sunstroke. All of these problems can be avoided by taking proper precautions such as, wearing sunscreen and practicing other “sun” safe methods so that you can enjoy ...
Men’s Health Month was created for a reason. Unlike women, who do actually go to the doctor regularly, men have a tendency to avoid their annual checkups, or avoid being seen by a doctor when they have an injury. This is a big mistake because thie habit of skipping a doctor’s appointment can lead to potential health threats as men get older. Understanding men’s health issues and health risks are really important ...
Ticks and Lyme disease is not something to obsess over, but it’s definitely something you should keep in mind this spring and summer, especially if you live in Massachusetts. Deer ticks especially, are tiny and can be very sneaky, latching onto you without you knowing. Lyme Disease is the most common tick borne illness in the United States and it is usually transmitted by the deer tick, commonly found in the New England area ...
What are the odds that you will contract an STD or STI in your lifetime? The odds are, if you’re sexually active you’re chances of getting one are high if you don’t take the right precautions. It’s normal to be scared of catching an STD, but, learning more about it during STD Awareness Month will help reduce the odds of getting one. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an infectious illness ...
“I keep sneezing and wheezing, is it COVID-19 or spring allergies?” Spring allergy season started early this year. At the same time we’re still seeing cases of COVID-19 in the Worcester, MA area. Although cases have waned in the last few weeks from the “winter wave” of COVID-19, it is still very much a threat and some symptoms of COVID-19 overlap with symptoms of allergies. But, where’s the relief? Let’s take a ...
“We’re seeing more patients than ever at our urgent-care centers who are reporting sore throats,” says Dr. Vincent Meoli, AFC Regional Medical Director in a recent interview. We’re currently seeing many patients coming in with sore throats worried that they may have COVID-19. There are other winter illnesses to worry about as well (sorry!), such as strep throat, flu and colds. If you’re experiencing a sore throat, it can be any one ...
Has anyone ever told you not to get a certain type of COVID-19 test over another? If yes, you’re probably wondering why the type of COVID-19 test matters. To you, a COVID-19 test might mean one universal thing, but there are actually differences in the testing methods and the testing accuracy. By now we’ve all heard of a rapid COVID-19 test. The fact is that there are different kinds of rapid tests and ...
