As the old adage goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

In the case of the flu bug, spending several minutes getting an immunization shot is worth the time people will not spend missing work, curled up inside their beds while fighting off fever, headaches, fatigue and a host of other symptoms.

Next month, Borgess Health will be offering locals a chance to protect themselves from the persistent virus through a one-day drive-through flu clinic at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 7, locals will be able drive up to the parking lot of the Dowagiac hospital, located at 420 W. High St., fill out some brief paperwork and pay for a vaccine shot, all without ever having to hop out of their vehicles, said Brenda Campbell, a registered nurse with Borgess Health and the coordinator of the agency’s community flu immunization program.

Healthcare professionals will be offering vaccination shots to adults and children as young as 6 months old. The shots should be covered under Medicare or most private insurance plans — those without insurance will be able to pay with cash or check at the site, Campbell said.

There is no limit to the shots per carload, she added.

The Dowagiac drive-through clinic is one of more than 100 different flu immunization events that Borgess’ community flu immunization program is organizing throughout southwest Michigan in the coming weeks, Campbell said. The healthcare agency has been organizing the clinics for decades, as way to keep residents safe during flu season, which begins around October and lasts through March, when people tend to spend more time indoors, the registered nurse said.

“We feel it’s important to get these services out to the community,” Campbell said. “They don’t have to make a trip anywhere to get them. They can just go, get their shot and be protected for the season.”

While flu shots are particularly important for senior citizens or people with pre-existing medical conditions, who are high risk of contracting pneumonia, the Center for Disease Control recommends that anyone over the age of 6 months receive an annual flu shot, which protects people from the virus for nine to 10 months, Campbell said.

Those that decide to roll the dice place themselves at risk of contracting the influenza virus, which may cause symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue.

“It’s pretty miserable, and can cause you to miss a lot of time off work, and maybe even require you to make a trip to the doctor,” Campbell said. “It can happen to anyone, too. Even to the healthiest of people.”

Weekend clinics such as the Oct. 7 one at Borgess-Lee offer the perfect opportunity for people with busy professional or family lives to get themselves or their children immunized, Campbell said. Getting an annual shot not only ensures that the person receiving is protected, but also helps prevent the virus from spreading to the people they care about, as well, the nurse added.

“Come out, get your shot and enjoy a healthier winter,” she said, encouraging people to visit the upcoming Dowagiac clinic.

For additional information, people should call (269) 382-6735 or visit borgess.com/flushots.