With the relaxation of physical distancing measures that prevented the spread of COVID-19 last fall and winter, epidemiologists predict an especially heavy-hitting flu season through 2022. To prevent flu cases from popping up like Spirit Halloween stores in abandoned K-Marts, take the time to get vaccinated and learn how to minimize your chances of contracting the virus.
The flu is a respiratory illness caused by one of many influenza viruses, causing symptoms ranging anywhere from mild to severe. Because the virus itself constantly changes in order to survive from host to host, there’s often a new kind of flu virus each year.
Symptoms vary from case to case, but they usually include fever and chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, achy muscles, fatigue, and headaches. Some flu patients experience vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than in adults. These symptoms typically begin two days after the virus enters the body, so it’s possible to spread the flu before you realize you’re sick. Some flu patients can be asymptomatic as well – all the more reason to get vaccinated.
The flu can spread to others within a six-foot distance who inhale the respiratory droplets we release into the air when we cough, talk, sneeze, or sing. These droplets can also linger on household surfaces, and we become infected when we interact with a contaminated object and then touch our face. If you have the flu, you’re more contagious the first three to four days after you first get sick. Most healthy adults are able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop to a week after recovering from the illness, but kids and immunocompromised patients can pass the virus on for longer than 7 days.
Because the flu virus thrives in chillier climates, flu season typically occurs in fall and winter. Cases begin to increase in October and peak in February, but can last until as late as May. In the United States, between 3% and 11% of the nation’s population get sick with the flu every year – that’s between 9.3 million and 45 million people, from infants onward, depending on the severity of the season’s impact.
This flu season proves to be especially challenging, as the flu shares many similar symptoms to COVID-19. Though COVID is more contagious, they’re both respiratory viruses that can cause many of the same health effects, even death in severe cases. Unfortunately, it’s possible to contract both viruses at the same time. The only way to determine what respiratory virus you have is to take a medically administered test, but learn more about identifying the differences between the two from the CDC here.
Though most flu patients recover within a few days to a few weeks, developing complications like bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, and sinus infections is not uncommon.
Much like with COVID-19, some populations find themselves more at risk for complications related to the flu. Adults 65 and older and children younger than 2 may be especially affected by the virus, though severe cases in children can extend up to the age of 5. Flu patients with respiratory conditions, blood and endocrine disorders, or medical histories related to the heart, liver, or metabolic functioning are also more at risk. If you are immunocompromised or pregnant, you should be especially careful during flu season.
Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the flu. To prevent the spread of the virus this fall and winter,
Clean and disinfect your environment. Pay special attention to high-touch surfaces and other objects that could be contaminated with the virus.
Riverside Medical Clinic offers flu vaccine clinics through the month of October, free for Riverside Medical Clinic patients. Most of these clinics are drive-thru, and masks are required. Visit our flu clinic web page for dates and locations.
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We've made it easy to pay your bill online. You can sign into your My Healthy Connection secure site to make a payment, or go to our web payment portal to pay your bill. For hearing impaired services – TTY 711. To access language or LEP (Limited English Proficiency) services at no cost to you, call the number on your insurance ID card or call (951) 683-6370.
Call our billing department at (951) 782-3050.
Riverside Medical Clinic’s Mission Grove location was opened to provide a more intimate setting to receive healthcare. A handful of physicians in a well-designed clinical setting provide our patients a relaxed atmosphere as they visit their physician. Patients who see their primary care physician at the Mission Grove office have direct access to all of the specialists at our other locations throughout the Inland Empire.
For hearing impaired services – TTY 711. To access language or LEP (Limited English Proficiency) services at no cost to you, call the number on your Insurance ID card or call (951) 683-6370.
We are located at:
19314 Jesse Lane Suite 100 Riverside, CA 92508 |
8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Pediatrics |
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 782-3640 |
Laboratory |
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 1:00pm | (951) 776-4518 |
Adult Medicine |
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 321-6539 |
Urology |
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 776-4503 |
Riverside Medical Clinic’s Temescal Valley location has internal medicine practice practitioners, and other specialists
Our physicians see patients Monday-Friday. Our patients will be happy to know we have Urgent Care available as well.
Free ample parking with handicapped spots available for our patients and visitors.
For hearing impaired services – TTY 711. To access language or LEP (Limited English Proficiency) services at no cost to you, call the number on your Insurance ID card or call (951) 683-6370.
We are located at:
21634 Retreat Parkway Temescal Valley, CA 92883 |
8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Urgent Care 21634 Retreat Parkway |
7 Days a Week 12:00pm - 8:00pm | (951) 493-6852 |
Imaging |
Mon - Fri 8:00am - 8:00pm Sat-Sun 12:00pm - 8:00pm | |
Laboratory |
Mon - Fri 7:00am-6:00pm & Sat 7:00am-12:00pm | (951) 493-6820 |
Radiology |
Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:30pm | (951) 493-6909 |
Occupational Medicine |
Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm | (951) 493-6929 |
After Hours 5:00pm-9:00pm | ||
Sat & Sun 12:00pm-8:00pm | ||
Call Center |
Mon - Fri 7:30am - 7:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Riverside Medical Clinic’s Brockton location is located in the heart of Riverside. In addition to having some of the area’s leading pediatricians, obstetricians and internists, this campus has about any specialist one might need.
The Brockton campus also offers urgent care, the most advanced imaging capabilities in the Inland Empire and comprehensive lab services. A complete vision center is onsite as well. Additionally, this campus has our Surgery Center, health and fitness classrooms, administrative offices and our human resources department.
The Brockton Campus has ample parking with many handicapped spots available. There is also public transportation near the main entrance. This location has doctors and specialists available Monday-Friday with Urgent Care open 7 days a week.
For hearing impaired services – TTY 711. To access language or LEP (Limited English Proficiency) services at no cost to you, call the number on your Insurance ID card or call (951) 683-6370.
We are located at:
7117 Brockton Ave. Riverside, CA 92506 |
8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Urgent Care 7117 Brockton Ave. Riverside, CA 92506 |
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 9:00pm Sat & Sun 9:00am - 9:00pm |
(951) 782-3789 |
Laboratory |
Mon-Fri 7:00am – 6:00pm Sat 7:00am – 12:00pm |
(951) 782-3637 |
Pharmacy |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm | (951) 782-3653 |
Occupational Medicine |
Mon–Fri 8:00am – 5:00pm | (951) 782-3707 |
Weekday After hours: Mon–Fri 5:00pm – 9:00pm | ||
Sat & Sun 9:00am-9:00pm | ||
Imaging |
Mon-Fri 8:00am – 4:30pm | (951) 782-3720 |
Urgent Care Imaging Hours: Mon-Fri 4:30pm – 9:00pm Sat-Sun 10:00am - 9:00pm |
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OB/GYN & Dermatology 7160 Brockton Ave. 2nd Floor Riverside, CA 92506 |
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Surgery Center |
(951) 782-3801 | |
Sports Clinic 7150 Brockton Ave. Suite 103 Riverside |
Mon-Fri 6:00am-8:00am | (951) 321-6338 |
Call Center |
Mon-Fri 7:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
At our Eastvale clinic, we have primary care providers for adults and children who are supported by a caring staff. Additionally, we have lab and imaging services. And when you need a specialist, you are as close as any of our other locations throughout the Inland Empire.
For hearing impaired services – TTY 711. To access language or LEP (Limited English Proficiency) services at no cost to you, call the number on your Insurance ID card or call (951) 683-6370.
We are located at:
12742 Limonite Ave. Eastvale, CA 92880 |
8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Adult Medicine |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm | |
Pediatrics |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm | |
Endocrinology |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm (Out of Office Every Other Friday) | |
Imaging |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm | |
Lab Services |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm | (951) 739-2727 |
Occupational Medicine |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm | (951) 739-2746 |
After Hours: Temporarily Closed | ||
Sat & Sun: Temporarily Closed |
Riverside Medical Clinic’s Jurupa Valley has physicians available Monday–Friday to assist patients looking for physicians from Family Practice to Radiology.
With multiple locations throughout the Inland Empire it makes the transition to a specialist convenient, should the need arise. Our physicians see patients Monday–Friday.
Ample parking is available with plenty of handicapped spots for our patients and visitors.
For hearing impaired services – TTY 711. To access language or LEP (Limited English Proficiency) services at no cost to you, call the number on your Insurance ID card or (951) 683-6370.
We are located at:
6250 Clay St. Riverside, CA 92509 |
8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Pediatrics |
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:30 pm | (951) 360-5260 |
Laboratory |
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 360-5280 |
Radiology |
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 360-5280 |
For Aviation Physicals please call (951) 360-5215 for available dates and times. |
Riverside Medical Clinic’s Moreno Valley campus is in the Canyon Springs/Moreno Valley area. We have physicians specializing in Pediatrics to Internal Medicine.
Our Moreno Valley campus has advanced imaging and lab capabilities. Our physicians are available to see patients Monday-Friday, Urgent Care is open 7 days a week.
There is ample parking available with plenty of handicapped spots for patients and visitors.
For hearing impaired services – TTY 711. To access language or LEP (Limited English Proficiency) services at no cost to you, call the number on your Insurance ID card or call (951) 683-6370.
We are located at:
6405 Day St. Riverside, CA 92507 |
8:30am - 5:30pm | (951) 683-6370 |
Urgent Care |
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 9:00pm Sat & Sun 9:00am - 9:00pm |
(951) 697-5453 |
Laboratory |
Mon-Fri 7:00am-6:00pm | (951) 697-5667 |
Pharmacy |
Temporary Hours Mon-Fri 10:00am-3:00pm Sat 9:00am - 1:00pm | (951) 697-5657 |
Occupational Medicine |
Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm | |
Weekday After Hours: 5:00pm–9:00pm | ||
Sat & Sun 9:00am–9:00pm | ||
Imaging |
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm | |
Sat & Sun 10:00am - 9:00pm |