Flu shots best defense against seasonal illness
By Dolly A. Butz | Posted: Sunday, October 05, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Cough, fever, aches, fatigue -- they're symptoms of influenza, a viral disease of the upper respiratory system.
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year in the United States, on average 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from flu.
You can protect yourself and your family from influenza by getting a flu vaccine, said Linda Drey Siouxland District Health Department nursing director.
Why should you get a flu shot?
"Influenza can really, really make you ill. You can miss days of work. You can be hospitalized. In the most severe cases, there are deaths that are attributed to the flu."
Who should get a flu shot?
School-age children 5-18, young children 6 months to 4 years old, pregnant women, adults older than 50, anyone with chronic a illness, child-care and health-care providers and family members of any of the above groups.
When should you get a flu shot?
"Anytime starting in the fall, Octoberish on. Flu season peaks usually in February and March. That's why we don't want people to receive the flu vaccine too early because we want it to be effective for that whole year."
Where can you get a flu shot?
Family doctor or local health department.
Can you get a free flu shot?
Drey said she is not aware of anyone who is offering free flu shots in Siouxland. The general cost of a flu shot is $25.
Is there a shortage of the flu vaccine this year?
Drey said there is a good supply of flu vaccine this year.
What strains of flu does the vaccine protect you against?
The types of strains of influenza virus-causing illnesses change from year to year, or even within a 12-month period.
Drey said, "The CDC works with the World Health Organization, and they take a look at what the most prevalent strains of influenza around the world have been and then every year they look at that and come up with a whole new formula. It's highly effective against the most common (strains)."
Can you get influenza from the shot?
"It is not a live virus. You can not get influenza from the shot."
If you get a flu shot can you still get influenza?
"You can, and it might be because you get a substrain that's not covered, and it might be that you were exposed to influenza and then you got your shot, or it could be that the flu strain that you were exposed to was covered by the vaccine, but chances are the amount of illness or how sick you are will be much, much less."
Besides getting a flu shot, what else should you do to protect yourself from the flu?
"Wash your hands with soap and water, not anti-bacterials or any of those kind of things."
What should you do if you think you have the flu?
"If you are sick, you need to stay home so that you don't spread it to anybody else. Rest and drink plenty of fluids. You want to see your health care provider. They can help you with symptomatic treatments."
How long does the flu last?
Two to seven days.
Siouxland District Health Department will offer adult flu shots to the public at the following locations:
Oct. 6: 2 to 6 p.m., Siouxland District Health Department
Oct. 13: 10 a.m. to noon, Senior Community Center, Pierson
Oct. 15: 10 a.m. to noon Senior Center, Moville
Oct. 17: 10 a.m. to noon Community Center, Correctionville
Oct. 23: 2 to 6 p.m. Siouxland District Health Department
Nov. 4: 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. City Hall, Danbury
Nov. 7: 8 a.m. to noon Siouxland Center for Active Generations (Siouxland Senior Center), Sioux City. Call 712-279-6119 to make an appointment.
Shots are also available at Siouxland District Health Department from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Patients with Medicare of Wellmark/Blue Cross/Blue Shield should bring their individual insurance card(s) with them, and insurance will be billed. Medicare Managed Care Plans such as Humana, Unicare and Secure Horizons are not accepted.
For non-Medicare patients, flu shots will cost $25, payable by cash or check at the time of service.
For more information, call 712-279-6119 or 800-587-3005.
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year in the United States, on average 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from flu.
You can protect yourself and your family from influenza by getting a flu vaccine, said Linda Drey Siouxland District Health Department nursing director.
Why should you get a flu shot?
"Influenza can really, really make you ill. You can miss days of work. You can be hospitalized. In the most severe cases, there are deaths that are attributed to the flu."
Who should get a flu shot?
School-age children 5-18, young children 6 months to 4 years old, pregnant women, adults older than 50, anyone with chronic a illness, child-care and health-care providers and family members of any of the above groups.
When should you get a flu shot?
"Anytime starting in the fall, Octoberish on. Flu season peaks usually in February and March. That's why we don't want people to receive the flu vaccine too early because we want it to be effective for that whole year."
Where can you get a flu shot?
Family doctor or local health department.
Can you get a free flu shot?
Drey said she is not aware of anyone who is offering free flu shots in Siouxland. The general cost of a flu shot is $25.
Is there a shortage of the flu vaccine this year?
Drey said there is a good supply of flu vaccine this year.
What strains of flu does the vaccine protect you against?
The types of strains of influenza virus-causing illnesses change from year to year, or even within a 12-month period.
Drey said, "The CDC works with the World Health Organization, and they take a look at what the most prevalent strains of influenza around the world have been and then every year they look at that and come up with a whole new formula. It's highly effective against the most common (strains)."
Can you get influenza from the shot?
"It is not a live virus. You can not get influenza from the shot."
If you get a flu shot can you still get influenza?
"You can, and it might be because you get a substrain that's not covered, and it might be that you were exposed to influenza and then you got your shot, or it could be that the flu strain that you were exposed to was covered by the vaccine, but chances are the amount of illness or how sick you are will be much, much less."
Besides getting a flu shot, what else should you do to protect yourself from the flu?
"Wash your hands with soap and water, not anti-bacterials or any of those kind of things."
What should you do if you think you have the flu?
"If you are sick, you need to stay home so that you don't spread it to anybody else. Rest and drink plenty of fluids. You want to see your health care provider. They can help you with symptomatic treatments."
How long does the flu last?
Two to seven days.
Siouxland District Health Department will offer adult flu shots to the public at the following locations:
Oct. 6: 2 to 6 p.m., Siouxland District Health Department
Oct. 13: 10 a.m. to noon, Senior Community Center, Pierson
Oct. 15: 10 a.m. to noon Senior Center, Moville
Oct. 17: 10 a.m. to noon Community Center, Correctionville
Oct. 23: 2 to 6 p.m. Siouxland District Health Department
Nov. 4: 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. City Hall, Danbury
Nov. 7: 8 a.m. to noon Siouxland Center for Active Generations (Siouxland Senior Center), Sioux City. Call 712-279-6119 to make an appointment.
Shots are also available at Siouxland District Health Department from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Patients with Medicare of Wellmark/Blue Cross/Blue Shield should bring their individual insurance card(s) with them, and insurance will be billed. Medicare Managed Care Plans such as Humana, Unicare and Secure Horizons are not accepted.
For non-Medicare patients, flu shots will cost $25, payable by cash or check at the time of service.
For more information, call 712-279-6119 or 800-587-3005.
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