Get the Facts about Flu and Flu Vaccine
Monday, November 10, 2008 | 04:46am
NASHVILLE - Influenza season is here, and the Department of Health is urging Tennesseans to get vaccinated. Now is the best time to get immunized against the flu in order to be protected from infection throughout the entire flu season.
“The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent infection from influenza viruses,” said Kelly Moore, MD, MPH, director of the Tennessee Immunization Program. “Science shows this vaccine is safe and effective, and we urge anyone who has not yet received a flu vaccination to get one.”
As we enter flu season every year, it is not uncommon to encounter myths and misinformation about the flu vaccine. To learn the facts, contact your primary health care provider or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.
While most people who get the flu recover fully within one to two weeks, some people develop serious, life-threatening complications such as pneumonia. Each year about 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die because of the flu. An estimated 700 flu-related deaths occur each year in Tennessee.
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 shields those who may not be able to get a vaccine, such as young infants or people with certain medical conditions.
New recommendations this year from the CDC urge vaccination for all school-aged children through age 18. Past recommendations included only children ages 6 months to 5 years as a high risk group. 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. In addition to children, those considered at high risk include:
- Pregnant women
- Anyone over 50 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
In addition to immunization, it’s 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. Commonsense precautions include washing your hands or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently, keeping hands away from your face, and covering coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue.
“Anyone sick with flu or flu-like symptoms should also stay home to avoid spreading illness to others,” said Moore. “These precautions can also help prevent the spread of other illnesses including the common cold.”
Flu vaccine comes in two forms, a shot and a nasal spray, and is widely available throughout Tennessee at locations including county health departments, private physicians’ offices, community clinics, pharmacies and grocery stores. Learn more about the flu and the flu vaccine by visiting the Department of Health Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/. To get information 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.