As the weather starts to get cooler, it’s a reminder that flu season is just around the corner, and scheduling a flu vaccine should be at the top of everyone’s to-do list. The CDC notes that “flu season” usually begins in October each year and can run until May, with the most cases diagnosed between December and March.
The flu or Influenza is a highly contagious disease that affects the lungs and can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia. In some severe cases, it can also cause hospitalization or death. The most common reported symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, and fatigue that can last several days.
Unfortunately, even the healthiest people are susceptible to the flu, but special attention should be given to those under the age of five, over the age of sixty-five, pregnant women and anyone with diabetes or asthma who exhibit flu-like symptoms; according to the CDC, they are most likely to develop serious complications from the virus.
Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. There are many misconceptions about the flu vaccine, but it is extremely safe. The vaccine is given to hundreds of millions of people each year and cannot give you the flu. If you feel flu-like symptoms after receiving the vaccine, it is most likely because you were already exposed to the virus. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and older, including pregnant women.
There are many different viruses that can cause the flu, and they are constantly changing. Each year the vaccines are reviewed and revised to protect against the three or four viruses that will be the most common for the flu season. Although the vaccine is available in a nasal spray, the CDC recommends the traditional shot for vaccination during the 2016 – 2017 flu season.
Here are a few tips to help you and your family prepare for the upcoming flu season:
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
- If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, or an inhaled powder) and are not available over-the-counter.
Don’t forget to make an appointment with your provider at Sam Rodgers to get your vaccine today!
