Cold and flu season is here. If you have questions about getting the flu shot or whether anything is different this year due to the COVID-19 virus, we’ve got answers. We talked to Dr. Adam Secory, a pediatrician at The Iowa Clinic on Alice’s Road in Waukee about the flu shot. He answered our questions and shared tips for how to make it a good experience for kids who are afraid of getting shots.
Who should get the flu shot and when?
We feel it’s important for everybody to get flu shots. Babies as young as six months can get the shot. The best time to get the flu shot is early in the season, September and October. Flu season ramps up in December, January, and February.
Is there any benefit to getting the flu shot to help prevent getting COVID-19?
Influenza is a different virus than the coronavirus, but protecting yourself and others from influenza is ideal to decrease the spread through the community during the pandemic.
Is it safe to go get a flu shot at the doctor’s office?
Yes. The Iowa Clinic separates sick visits from well-child visits, by scheduling them at different times of the day. They thoroughly disinfect exam rooms between visits according to the CDC guidelines and then some. Everyone should feel safe to come to the clinic.
Do I need to schedule an appointment to get a flu shot?
You can make an appointment to get a flu shot. This year, The Iowa Clinic is also offering the option of a drive-up flu shot that you get from your car. You can call and coordinate the time with the office.
Watch the whole interview with Dr. Secory from the Iowa Clinic on the youtube video below!
Adam Secory, DO has been with The Iowa Clinic since 2013 and practicing as a board-certified pediatrician in Des Moines since 2008.
Dr. Secory enjoys working with kids and their families from birth to adolescence, making pediatrics the perfect fit. His patients motivate him to be a better doctor with their smiles, hugs, and steadfast honesty. He has been fascinated by pediatric cardiology and its complexity ever since a mission trip to the Yucatan for patients born with congenital heart defects. Other clinical interests include sports medicine and dermatology.
When he is not practicing medicine, Dr. Secory spends time with his wife and two girls. Together they golf, bike, play tennis, and participate in any other outdoor activities whenever they get the chance.
Connect with The Iowa Clinic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IowaClinic
Twitter: twitter.com/theiowaclinic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TheIowaClinic
