Flu Shots Are Smart Shots
It's that time of year again for flu shots. Be
sure to protect yourself and your employees from infection. It's
easy to get vaccinated. Most retail pharmacies and convenience
clinics around town administer the shots - and no appointments are
usually necessary.
When flu season comes around, it is important to know the facts.
Protect yourself and your family from infection by learning more
about the flu. Then, take steps to prevent it by following these
tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What is the flu?
Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused
by a virus. It may seem like just an inconvenience, but it can
become severe or cause life-threatening complications. Symptoms may
include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat,
runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Gastrointestinal signs,
such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, are more common among
children. The flu spreads when a sick person coughs, sneezes or
speaks. This sends the virus into the air. Then, other people may
inhale it through their nose, throat or lungs. Once breathed in,
the germs multiply and cause symptoms. Touching a surface with the
virus and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes also can spread
the flu.
When can a person pass the flu along?
Adults may be contagious from one day before developing symptoms
up to five days after getting sick. Children can be contagious for
more than seven days.
Are there ways to prevent it?
One of the best ways to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each
fall, if possible. This especially is important for people that are
at a higher risk for flu complications. Flu shots are the primary
method for preventing the flu and its severe complications. The flu
shot protects you from the seasonal flu, H1N1 and other forms of
the flu virus, so only one shot is required. An annual flu shot is
generally recommended for the following groups:
• All children aged 6 months to 18 years
• All persons aged 50 years and older
• People with chronic medical conditions
• Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic or long-term care
facilities
• Health care workers
• People in contact with children from birth to five years
Talk with your doctor about getting a flu shot if you or a
family member falls into one of these categories.
Who should NOT get a flu shot?
There are some people who should not get a flu shot without first
talking with their doctor. These generally include:
• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza
vaccination.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6
weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not
approved for this age group), and
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they
should wait until they recover to get a flu shot.)
When is the best time to get a flu shot?
Yearly flu shots usually begin in September or as soon as the
vaccine is available and continue throughout the flu season into
December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and
duration of flu seasons vary. While flu outbreaks can happen as
early as October, most of the time flu activity peaks in January or
later.
Is the flu vaccine effective against all types of flu
and cold viruses?
The flu vaccine is your best protection against flu viruses.
However, the vaccine does not provide protection against non-flu
viruses that can cause colds and other respiratory illnesses. It
can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a cold and the
flu based on symptoms alone.
The flu vaccine won't protect you from cold or flu viruses that
are already in your body when you get a flu shot. The flu vaccine
takes about two weeks to provide protection from the flu, and it's
your best protection to prevent the most common types of flu this
season.
Can a flu shot give you the flu?
Inactivated influenza vaccine contains noninfectious killed
viruses and cannot cause the flu
What else can you do?
It's important to be watchful to protect yourself from the flu.
Consider following these steps to prevent the spread of
infection:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you're sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Practice good health habits.
What if you get sick?
If you're ill, get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids. Avoid
using alcohol and tobacco. You also can talk to your doctor about
over-the-counter medications to relieve your symptoms. Never give
aspirin to anyone younger than age 19. It's linked to Reye's
syndrome, a rare but sometimes fatal condition. Call your doctor
immediately if your symptoms are unusually severe, or if you're
having trouble breathing. Also call your doctor right away if you
have symptoms of the flu and are in a group at higher risk for
complications.
When flu season comes around, it is important to know the facts.
Protect yourself and your family from infection by learning more
about the flu. Then, take steps to prevent it by following these
tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
