It’s time to get your flu vaccination
By Teresa Frankovich, M.D., M.P.H., WUPHD Medical Director
The kids are back in school, there’s a nip of frost in the morning air, so now is the perfect time to think about getting seasonal flu shots for you and your family.
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness with symptoms like fever, body aches, sore throat, congestion and cough. Every year there are thousands of deaths in the U.S. related to influenza. And, while anyone can get the flu, older people, young children, and those with certain health conditions are at higher risk for serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.
The best time to receive your flu vaccine each year is in the fall, before flu appears in your community. While flu season can begin early as October, it usually hits hardest in January or February. And, because flu can continue to circulate well into the spring, it is almost never too late to consider getting vaccinated.
The 2011-2012 flu vaccine will protect against three strains of influenza that are expected to be circulating during this season: influenza A (H1N1); influenza A (H3N2); and an influenza B virus. Although this year’s vaccine contains the same components as last year’s, it is important to get vaccinated again because the protection does not last season to season. Annual vaccination is recommended for people aged 6 months and older, especially members of the following high risk groups:
- infants over 6 months and young children under 5 years;
- people aged 50 years and older;
- those who have have chronic lung (including asthma), heart, kidney or liver disease and those with neurologic, blood, or metabolic diseases (like diabetes mellitus);
- people who are immune-suppressed;
- women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;
Other high risk groups include children on long-term aspirin therapy, nursing home residents, Native Americans, very obese individuals, and healthcare workers. Vaccination is also recommended for household contacts and caregivers of high risk individuals.
. Flu vaccine is widely available this year, from physicians, hospitals and clinics; some retail pharmacies; and at the following health department-sponsored clinics:
- Hancock High School, Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with partners Portage Health and Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital;
- At the new Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L’Anse, Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9-11 a.m., with BCMH and Keweenaw Bay Tribal Health Department;
- Ontonagon School, Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10-1, with Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital;
- At the health department office in Bessemer, Thursday, Sept. 22 with drive-up service from 12:30 to 1:30 and walk-in from 2-4.
All health department clinics offer walk-in vaccination without appointment, and curb-side service for those who have problems with mobility. Michigan Medicare, Medicaid, and Healthy Kids are accepted with current cards, as well as cash or check for $25.
For more information, call the health department office in your county, or visit westernuphealth.org or cdc.gov/flu. Help to protect yourself, your family and your community this year….get vaccinated!