Protect Yourself and Our Community with a Flu Shot
November 3, 2026As November brings fall activities, family gatherings and holiday plans, I encourage adults across our region to take a simple step that can help protect their health and support those plans: get an annual flu shot.
I share this message on behalf of the physicians and advanced practice providers who care for patients across Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) and TMH Physician Partners. Through FSU Health, TMH and Florida State University are bringing together patient care, education and research to improve the health of our communities and help people stay healthy whenever possible.
As a family medicine physician, husband, father and member of this community, I understand how quickly illness can disrupt daily life. The flu is often underestimated, but it can make healthy adults seriously sick. For some, it means days away from work and family responsibilities. For others, it can lead to pneumonia, complications from existing health conditions or hospitalization.
An annual flu shot remains one of the best ways to reduce those risks.
Flu season begins in October and continues into spring. Getting vaccinated by the end of October is ideal because it takes about two weeks for your body to build protection. If that timeline passes, it is still worthwhile to get vaccinated while flu viruses continue to circulate.
If you have already received this season's flu shot, thank you for taking that important step.
While a flu shot cannot guarantee you will not get the flu, it can reduce your risk of illness and help prevent severe complications and hospitalization. That protection is especially important for adults age 65 and older, pregnant women and people living with diabetes, heart disease or asthma.
Across TMH and TMH Physician Partners, our physicians, advanced practice providers and colleagues receive their annual flu vaccines to help protect the patients and families who trust us with their care. Vaccination helps protect us and reduce the risk of spreading illness to people who may be more vulnerable to serious complications.
Vaccination also helps protect those around you. Whether it is an aging parent, a friend undergoing cancer treatment or an infant who is too young to receive the vaccine, lowering your risk of flu can help safeguard people who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.
If you have questions about the vaccine, please ask. Common concerns include whether the flu shot can cause the flu or whether last year's vaccination provides ongoing protection. The flu shot cannot cause the flu, and because protection decreases over time and flu viruses change from year to year, annual vaccination is recommended. Side effects are typically mild and short-lived.
Your physician, advanced practice provider or pharmacist can help you choose the vaccine that is right for your age and health history. If cost, transportation or scheduling is a barrier, let your care team know so they can help identify resources and options.
If you become sick, pay close attention to your symptoms. Warning signs such as difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain or confusion require immediate medical attention. Seeking care promptly can help prevent serious complications.
This flu season, please make a plan to get vaccinated. Visit TMH.ORG/Flu to find a flu shot location or connect with a primary care physician. Call ahead to confirm vaccine availability and whether an appointment is needed.
Our teams are here to care for you throughout every season. This fall, I encourage you to take this simple step to protect yourself, your loved ones and our community.
