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As we welcome the new year, flu season is in full swing, and protecting yourself and your loved ones should be a top priority. At Quick Care Med Walk-In Clinic & Urgent Care, we’re committed to helping our community stay healthy through education and accessible healthcare services.
The influenza virus spreads rapidly during winter months, causing fever, body aches, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms that can sideline you for weeks. However, with the right preventive measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of getting sick and enjoy a healthier start to the year.
Get Your Flu Shot
The single most effective way to prevent the flu is through vaccination. If you haven’t received your flu shot yet, it’s not too late. The vaccine takes about two weeks to provide full protection, and flu season typically peaks between December and February, often extending into March. Our walk-in clinic offers convenient flu vaccinations without an appointment, making it easy to protect yourself and your family. The flu vaccine is updated annually to match circulating strains, so even if you received one last year, you need a new vaccination for continued protection.
Practice Good Hygiene
Frequent handwashing remains one of your best defenses against illness. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after being in public spaces. When soap isn’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Pay special attention to washing your hands after touching common surfaces like shopping carts, ATM buttons, and gas pump handles.
Avoid Touching Your Face
The flu virus enters your body through your eyes, nose, and mouth. Make a conscious effort to keep your hands away from your face throughout the day, particularly when you’re out in public or haven’t recently washed your hands. This simple habit can dramatically reduce your exposure to flu and other respiratory viruses.
Strengthen Your Immune System
Support your body’s natural defenses by getting adequate sleep—aim for seven to nine hours per night. Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables that provide essential vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc. Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Managing stress through meditation, deep breathing exercises, or enjoyable activities also plays a crucial role in maintaining immune function. Regular exercise helps boost immune function and overall health, but remember to avoid overexertion, which can temporarily weaken your defenses.
Maintain Social Distance When Possible
During peak flu season, consider limiting close contact with people who are sick. If someone in your household is ill, try to designate a separate room and bathroom for them if possible. If you’re feeling unwell, do others a favor by staying home until you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication. When you must be around others while sick, wear a mask to reduce transmission.
Keep Your Environment Clean
Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, phones, keyboards, remote controls, and countertops. The flu virus can survive on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours, making surface cleaning an important preventive measure. In shared workspaces, wipe down your desk area daily during flu season.
When to Seek Care
If you do develop flu symptoms, Quick Care Med Walk-In Clinic & Urgent Care is here for you. Early treatment with antiviral medications can shorten the duration of illness and prevent complications, especially if started within 48 hours of symptom onset. Visit us if you experience severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent high fever, confusion, or if you have underlying health conditions that put you at higher risk for complications.
Start your new year strong by taking these preventive steps today. Your health is worth protecting, and we’re here to help every step of the way.
Quick Care Med Urgent Care
If your health needs are not emergent and in need of life-saving measures, the benefit of urgent care in comparison are numerous. To name a few, the wait time will be much shorter. For the most part, urgent care can see their patients within an hour. The cost is also much less with urgent care than it is with emergency room treatment. Quick Care Med urgent care provides you with the proper paperwork to follow up with your primary care physician or specialist, as urgent care takes initiatives to keep the line of communication open to make certain that your treatment is a top priority.
There are numerous reasons people go to urgent care, from sore throats, skin infections, school sports physicals, vaccinations, colds and flu, sprains, heat exhaustion, animal bites, dehydration, broken bones and much more. Before you go to the ER, consider if you could instead be treated at urgent care because of the numerous benefits to you and your loved ones.
Quick Care Med Walk-In Clinic & Urgent Care is a comprehensive urgent care clinic with multiple specialties to serve you. Quick Care Med has locations in Marion (Dunnellon and Ocala), Citrus (Crystal River, Inverness, Beverly Hills, and Homosassa), Levy (Williston), & Alachua (Newberry) counties, plus our newest location in Chiefland that provides immediate walk-in treatment to pediatric and adult patients for illnesses and injuries, wellness exams, and employer health services.
At Quick Care Med, they understand that illness and injuries can happen outside of the normal 9 to 5. That’s why they provide Fast, Easy, and Affordable® urgent care with the convenience of extended hours, including weekends and holidays!
Quick Care Offers The QCard—Affordable Healthcare for Just $1 a Day, Ask us How or Visit us Online!
4 Locations in Ocala
3415 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470
(On Silver Springs Blvd. across from Publix)
8119 SW State Rd 200, Ocala, FL 3448
(Just past Walgreens)
6341 N US 441, Ocala, FL 34475
(Across from John Deer)
2205 N Young Blvd, Chiefland, FL 32626
