CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Flu season can be more bearable with a shot to protect against the virus, especially for everyone six months and older, pregnant women, seniors over 65 and people with chronic diseases.

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There is no official start date, but flu season is here.

Influenza is most prevalent between the fall and  late spring, and can be fatal if left untreated. Here are details about the flu and how to prevent it:  

• A flu shot is the best protection against the flu virus and are recommended for everyone six months and older, especially pregnant women, people with other chronic diseases, and seniors over 65.  

• Be mindful of good hygiene. In addition to getting the flu shot, be extra diligent about washing your hands and cover your cough – preferably with the crook of your elbow.  

• Know the symptoms. The flu often comes on suddenly and can include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, headache, body aches, fatigue and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting.  

• If you’re sick, stay home and get medical care if you’re experiencing symptoms. Contact your doctor to see if antiviral drugs can be prescribed.   

Flu shots are available at all health department locations as well as most pharmacies, grocery stores, and physicians’ offices.

The best protection against the flu virus is to get vaccinated in the fall.

How fluent are you on influenza? Take this quiz, courtesy of the Mecklenburg County Health Department:

Question: Getting a flu shot will give me the flu.

Answer: False. Flu shots are made with inactivated (killed) flu viruses. That means they’re not infectious.

Question: I got the flu after I got a flu shot, so the vaccine doesn’t work.

Answer: False. Well, kind of. It’s possible that you are suffering from another respiratory illness or that you were exposed to the flu virus before the vaccine kicked in (it takes two weeks after getting it to be effective) or you came down with a strain of flu that wasn’t included in this year’s vaccine. Even if you still get the flu after getting a flu shot, getting the shot may help you have milder symptoms.

Question: I need to get a flu shot every year.

Answer: True. The flu virus changes (mutates) every year. So, getting vaccinated each year is important to make sure you have immunity to the strains that are most likely to cause an outbreak that year and it helps build your immunity against the flu for the long term.

Question: If I wait until November or December to get the vaccine, I’ll be healthy for the holidays.

Answer: False. Since flu season starts in October, the Centers for Disease Control recommends you get a flu shot by the end of October so that you are protected for the maximum amount of time during the season. But, if it’s already Thanksgiving and you realize you haven’t gotten you flu shot it’s not too late – getting it late in the season is better than not getting it at all.

Question: I’m young, strong and healthy. I don’t need a flu shot.

Answer: False. The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older get vaccinated for the flu. That’s because influenza is a contagious disease and can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia, as well as missed work or even hospitalization for otherwise healthy people. Healthy people also can spread the virus to others who are particularly susceptible, including newborn babies, senior citizens and those with weakened immune systems.

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