Residents urged to get flu shots
Published 9:28 pm Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Summer is barely over and warnings about the flu are already spreading. The Georgia Department of Public Health issued a press release Friday urging everyone to get the flu shot. The flu vaccine is not a one-time shot. It must be taken again every year in order to be effective.
According to Courtney Sheeley, of the South Health District, flu season lasts from October to May, with the peak season in South Georgia coming in January or February.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports approximately 36,000 US deaths from complications from the flu each year. The CDC encourages everyone to take preventative steps such as frequent hand washing with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze and then throwing the tissue away, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth and avoiding direct contact with sick people.
The CDC says one of the biggest mistakes people make that causes the flu to spread is not staying home long enough. They say it is important to stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone to avoid spreading it to others.
Local health departments, pharmacies and doctors offices are now giving the flu vaccine. If you go to the health department the shots are available on a first- come, first-served basis at a cost of $20. The health department accepts Medicare, Medicaid, United Healthcare and Cigna for state employees. The vaccine is available at the health department in the form of a nasal spray or a shot.
The nasal spray is not available at pharmacies without a prescription, but they have shots in ample supply, for about $30 if you do not have insurance.
According to Dr. Rubal Patel, of Tift Regional Medical Center Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, flu seasons are unpredictable and some are more severe than others. She recommends getting the flu vaccine every year as soon as it comes out.
Patel says, “Influenza spreads through infected respiratory droplets during coughing or sneezing. The period of contagion lasts from day 1 before symptoms develop up to five to seven days after becoming infected.” The signs to watch for are fever, chills, sore throat, running nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue.
“Everybody over the age of 6 months should get vaccinated each year, but especially patients with high risk of serious flu-related complications or those caring for patients with high risk of complications, people like health care workers and those taking care of young children,” says Patel.
Patel notes that some people are at greater risk for complications from the flu than others. She says children younger than 2 years, adults over 65, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant or post-partum (2 weeks after delivery) women, people on chronic aspirin therapy, morbidly obese patients, residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities and persons of Native American or Alaskan descent are examples of those at greater risk.
Patel also advises patients with chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic hematological, neurologic and metabolic conditions such as asthma, COPD, congestive heart failure, seizure disorders, stroke or diabetes to get vaccinated for the flu since they too are at greater risk for complications.
Patel advises, “There are people who should not get the flu vaccine. People with a severe allergy to eggs or who have had a severe reaction to the vaccine in the past should not get vaccinated. If you have a history of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of getting the flu vaccine you should not get the flu vaccination. If you have an acute febrile (fever-related) illness you should wait until your symptoms improve. Children younger than 6 months should not get the flu vaccine because it has not been approved in this age.”