Tag: Flu

It’s Time To Get Vaccinated Against The Flu!

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) tells us 20% of Americans get the “flu” (influenza) every year.

Over 200,000 people are hospitalized every year from the flu.

Anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 deaths each year are flu related.

Getting a flu shot is the first and most important step to protect you from the flu.

Your protection begins within two weeks of getting the flu shot.

Getting the flu shot does not cause the flu!

Who should get a flu shot?

  • Everyone 6 months or older.
  • Those at high risk to develop serious complications from the flu, young children less then 5 years and especially less than 2 years, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
  • Health care workers and people who care for high risk people.
  • People who care for children less than 6 months of age.

What are the types of vaccines?

  • Traditional flu vaccine made up of flu virus particles of two types of A and one type of B flu.
  • High dose flu vaccine, same particles but in higher dose for people 65 and older.
  • Intradermal flu vaccine, same particles but different delivery method just under the skin for people 18 to 64 years old.
  • Nasal spray flu vaccine with a “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine” (LAIV) for people 2 to 49 years old.

So get your flu shot today to protect you from the flu this season which lasts usually from October until May.

Vaccinate Against The Flu: It’s Not Too Late!

The peak time for people getting Influenza, the “flu”, is just getting started in the United States.

Typically, the months of February and March are when the highest number of Americans suffer from the “flu” and the complications of this viral disease.

If you did not receive a flu shot back in the fall of 2011 it’s not too late!

Getting your shot now will protect you within the next two weeks as the incidence of flu revs up.

Who should get it:

  • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months of age or older.
  • Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease the risk of severe flu illness and includes young children less than 5 and especially less than 2 years, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people over 65 years of age.
  • Health care workers and people who live with or care for high risk people.
  • People who care for children less than 6 months of age.

But what’s the difference between the “flu” and a “cold” as this time of year many people catch a common cold?

The real flu has some very typical symptoms in people who truly have it:

  • Fever (or feeling feverish with chills), and the majority of the time very high fever (>102F); colds usually are low grade fever (<101F).
  • Cough from the very beginning that can be deep in the chest; colds may develop a cough later in the course of the illness.
  • Severe body and muscle aches; less likely with most colds.
  • Sore throat. This can be present with both.
  • Runny or stuffy nose. This can be present with both.
  • Headache. This can be present with both.
  • Fatigue. Can be severe with the flu.
  • Some people can have vomiting and diarrhea with the flu, though this is more common in children than adults.

Vaccination against the flu can protect you from getting the flu or decrease the severity of the flu if you contract it.

Your Doctor can test you for the flu and begin treatment if you are diagnosed with influenza.

The sooner the treatment is started the faster the flu will resolve.

The symptoms of the flu can last 2 weeks or longer, especially if left untreated.

How can you protect yourself from flu?

Each year over 200,000 Americans are hospitalized for the serious complications from the flu and there were over 14,000 deaths resulting from the flu last year!

How can you protect yourself?

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
  • While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.
  • The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic.
  • Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the 2011-2012 vaccines are available.
  • Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
  • People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
  • Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
  • Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.

What’s Stopping You From Getting Vaccinated!

  • There are now hundreds of Pharmacies in Denver and many in your city that offer flu vaccines.
  • Many offer walk-in customers.
  • Many have evening and weekend hours.
  • Most accept the major insurance plans.
  • And after your shot, you can get discounts on groceries and other goods or even free doughnuts and coffee!