Protect yourself from the flu. Get your flu vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age six months and older get an annual flu vaccine before the end of October. However, with a busy schedule it can feel impossible to get to the doctor or pharmacy. That is why the CDC created National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW).
NIVW is the perfect time to get vaccinated if you haven’t already. The flu is not just a bad cold. It can lead to serious health issues like pneumonia and bacterial infections, especially in young children, pregnant women, anyone age 65 or older and individuals already compromised by factors such as asthma, kidney and liver disorders, and heart disease.
Most people who get the flu recover in less than two weeks. However, the flu shot can help prevent you from getting sick in the first place.
Protect yourself, your family and those around you
The flu vaccination can help keep you and your family healthy throughout the flu season. And, if for some reason you do contract the virus, it can help weaken your symptoms and allow you to recover faster.
According to the CDC, the flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with the flu by 40-60%. It can also prevent trips to the hospital.
If you are pregnant, it is even more important for you to get vaccinated. A number of studies have shown that the flu shot protects you and your unborn child. It will continue to protect your baby for several months after birth while the child is too young to be vaccinated.
Protect your children
The CDC estimates that up to 26,000 children younger than age five have been hospitalized each year due to the flu. It is very important that if you have a child age six months or older, you get them vaccinated every year.
The vaccine can reduce your child’s risk of getting sick by about half. Flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are available. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine which is right for your child.
If you get the flu
Anyone can get the flu. Anyone can pass the flu to another person. If you have not been vaccinated and get the flu, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. There are prescription medications that can help you fight the infection and begin to feel better.
These antiviral medications work best when they are started within two days of symptoms. Flu symptoms include a runny nose, fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, chills, headache and fatigue.
There are several different types of medication to fight the flu. While most forms of the drug are for individuals two years and older, there are some forms available for children as young as three months. Talk to your provider to find out which one is best for you.
For more information
If you have any questions about the influenza vaccine or antiviral medications used to treat the flu, talk to your healthcare provider. If you have questions about how your medical plan covers these items, talk to your Human Resources department or benefits administrator.
The holiday season will soon be upon us. Family and friends will be gathering and flu activity is increasing. Protect yourself and those around you – especially babies, young children, older people, and those with chronic health conditions.
Get your flu shot today!
This content is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing professional, financial, medical or legal advice. You should contact your licensed professional to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.
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