My employer is very good about giving flu shots at training events, meetings, or paying for employees to get them at a physician’s office or clinic. I have taken advantage of this benefit for a number of years, but when I mentioned it to a friend; she said she wasn’t getting one. My response was “Why not?” – I thought almost everyone got a flu shot these days. Her resistance encouraged me to do a little research and this is what I found out.
The flu, or influenza, is a respiratory infection, usually accompanied by fever, sore throat, body aches, chills, fatigue, headache, cough, runny nose, and more. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person. Each year about 20 percent of Americans get the flu, 200,000 of those are hospitalized, and depending on the year – 3,000 to 49,000 die from flu related reasons. Those who are immuno-compromised are at the greatest risk of flu complications, such as young children, pregnant women, older adults, or someone recovering from or being treated for another illness or health condition. Examples include those with diabetes, cancer, asthma, or COPD. The CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get an annual flu vaccination (with a few exceptions). Health care workers are also highly encouraged to receive a vaccination.
Flu vaccines are available by shot or nasal spray. The nasal spray is approved for use with those 2 to 49 years of age, who aren’t pregnant and are healthy. Flu vaccines are available typically by September and take approximately two weeks to build up your immunity after receiving a shot. So who shouldn’t get a flu vaccine? In addition to infants, people with allergies to eggs or anyone who had a prior allergic reaction should consult their physician, if you are already ill – wait to receive your vaccination when you recover. The CDC reports that severe reactions are rare (1 to 2 people out of every million people vaccinated), but they do occur.
If you are like my friend and aren’t getting a vaccination, what can you do to prevent the flu?
- Get a good night’s sleep – 7 to 8 hours for adults and 9 to 11 hours for children.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer or rub.
- Germs spread by touching your eyes, mouth and nose – so avoid touching them.
- Disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated by germs – phones, doorknobs, keyboards, and other frequently touched items.
- Avoid crowds when the flu is going around. This may be the time of year not to shake hands.
- Avoid contact with sick people and stay home from work if you feel ill.
- If you become sick, stay home at least a few days after your fever is gone. The flu is typically contagious for 5 to 7 days.
Unless you have the rare reason to avoid the flu vaccine, I hope you get your flu shot soon. I already got mine!
Sources:
Mayo Clinic, Flu Shot: Your Best Bet for Avoiding Influenza, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flu-shots/ID00017.
CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm.
Writer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ross County.