The best way to give yourself a chance of getting through the winter without contracting a severe course of the flu or covid-19 is to get vaccinated.  "While the vaccine won't guarantee that you won't get both viral diseases, you will almost certainly get a much milder form, and it certainly won't lead to serious complications," says Dalibor Stoszek, MD,  general practitioner and chief medical officer at AFI Canadian Medical.

Flu shots are available at Canadian Medical from the beginning of October until the end of December. Clients can get this vaccination free of charge when they are a part of certain membership programs. For self-payers, the cost is about one-third the price of what people spend for over-the-counter flu medication at the pharmacy. 

"Vaccinations have minor side effects. The most common side effects are pain and redness at the vaccination site, and a mild fever or headache the day after the injection. This is not a cause for concern, on the contrary, it’s a sign that your body is building up antibodies," adds Dalibor Stoszek, MD.

We vaccinate against coronavirus continuously at the Waltrovka and Apeiron clinics, and children can get a vaccine at our AFI clinic. We also have new and innovative vaccines against newer variants of the virus. A second booster dose (i.e. the fourth overall) is highly recommended, especially for the elderly and chronically ill (especially for patients with diabetes, heart disease including high blood pressure, lung diseases such as bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer patients, etc.). If you are unsure, any of our GPs will be happy to advise you on what is right for you. You can book an appointment by calling our client hotline, at the reception desks when you visit our clinics, or through your personal coordinator.