The 2025 Flu Shot: Essential Information for Maine Healthcare Workers 🍎

To our essential healthcare workforce—CNAs, PSS, MAs, and all support staff—as we move through October 2025, it's time to focus on your annual influenza vaccination. Protecting yourself is the first step in maintaining the health and safety of your patients and colleagues throughout the upcoming respiratory season.

Here is the key information you need regarding this important immunization.

Why This Vaccine Matters for Your Role

As a healthcare worker in a Designated Healthcare Facility (hospitals, nursing homes, residential care, etc.), your proximity to patients means you're a vital link in infection control. The flu shot is your single most effective tool for minimizing the risk of outbreaks in vulnerable populations.

• Protecting High-Risk Individuals: Influenza can cause severe complications, hospitalization, and even death for the elderly, young children, and those with chronic medical conditions. Your vaccination creates a barrier, directly reducing the chance of bringing the virus into your facility.

• Preventing Severe Illness: Even if you contract a different strain of the flu, the vaccine is proven to reduce the severity of illness, helping you stay on your feet and at work, ensuring your facility remains adequately staffed.

The 2025-2026 Vaccine: What’s Inside

Every year, the flu vaccine is updated to match the strains predicted to circulate.

• Trivalent Formulation: The 2025-2026 vaccine is a trivalent (three-component) vaccine. It is formulated to protect against the two main types of influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus, based on the latest global surveillance data.

• The Inactivated Virus Fact: It is impossible to get the flu from the shot. The standard injectable vaccine uses an inactivated (dead) virus or viral components that only teach your immune system how to recognize and fight the real virus.

Understanding Side Effects

Any symptoms you feel are a sign that your immune system is hard at work building protection. They are generally mild and temporary, resolving much faster than the actual flu.

Common Side Effects (Typically Last 1-2 Days)	What to Do
Soreness, Redness, or Swelling at the injection site (arm).	Apply a cool compress and move your arm frequently.
Mild Headache, Muscle Aches, or Fatigue.	Take over-the-counter pain relievers if needed.
Severe Allergic Reaction (e.g., difficulty breathing, swelling)	Seek immediate medical attention. This is extremely rare, but possible with any vaccine.

Getting Your Shot in the Bangor Area

The ideal time for vaccination is September or October to ensure you are protected before the flu season peaks (usually between December and February). Since it is mid-October, there's no time to wait!

Convenient Options for Vaccination

1. Your Employer's Staff Clinic:

   • Best Option: Check with your HR or Employee Health Department immediately for scheduled on-site clinics. These are usually the fastest and easiest way to get the shot and complete documentation.

2. Local Pharmacies:

   • Many pharmacies offer the flu shot with no out-of-pocket cost with insurance. Walk-ins are often welcome.

   • Bangor Area Examples: Shaw’s Pharmacy (353 Main St), Walgreens (706 Broadway), and CVS.

3. Local Clinics & Providers:

   • Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or an Urgent Care center like ConvenientMD (543 Broadway) can administer the shot.

   • Northern Light Health facilities and affiliated pharmacies also offer vaccine services.

The Documentation Step

Regardless of where you get vaccinated, this is crucial: you must obtain the Certificate of Immunization and submit it to your employer's record-keeping department immediately. This document is required to verify your compliance with State regulations.

Thank you for your professionalism and commitment to infection prevention. Getting your flu shot is one of the most important things you'll do this season to protect the health of your patients.