Tennesseans Reminded of Need for Flu Vaccine

The Department of Health has confirmed the first cases of seasonal influenza for 2008, with positive cultures reported from several Tennessee counties. Tennessee residents still have time to protect themselves from the flu this season. Flu vaccine is widely available at locations throughout Tennessee, including county health department clinics.

“The flu season can peak in February or even March, so there is still time for those who haven’t been immunized to get a flu vaccination and have it protect them this winter,” said Tim F. Jones, MD, State Epidemiologist. “We urge anyone who has not yet received a flu vaccination to get one.”

Most people who get the flu recover fully within one to two weeks. However, some people develop serious, life-threatening complications such as pneumonia. Each year about 114,000 people in the United States are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die because of the flu.

A flu immunization protects not only the person vaccinated, but his or her family, friends and coworkers as well. Protecting yourself from the flu also helps protect those who may not be able to get a vaccine, such as young infants or people with certain medical conditions. It is especially important for people at high risk for contracting the flu, or anyone who comes into contact with a high-risk person, to get vaccinated. Those considered at high risk include:

• Pregnant women
• Persons more than 50 years of age
• All children age 6 months to 5 years of age
• Anyone with a chronic medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease
• Residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes
• Anyone living with or caring for young infants or anyone in the above mentioned groups, especially healthcare providers

It is also important to practice good hygiene and proper respiratory etiquette during flu season to protect yourself from the virus, and to help prevent spreading illness if you are sick. Common sense precautions include frequent hand washing with warm soapy water, keeping hands away from your face, and covering coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue. These precautions can also help prevent the spread of other illnesses including the common cold.

“People should also stay home if at all possible when they are sick so they don’t spread illness to coworkers or social contacts,” said Kelly Moore, MD, MPH, medical director of the State Immunization Program. “Flu is highly contagious. Staying home can help reduce cases of flu and will help the person recover more quickly.”

Flu vaccines are 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing flu among healthy adults. Flu vaccine protection takes about two weeks to become effective. The vaccine is available in two forms, a shot and a nasal spray.

For more information on the flu vaccine, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/flu. To inquire about vaccine availability, contact your health care provider or your county health department. A complete list of county health department locations is available online at http://health.state.tn.us/localdepartments.htm.