FLU SEASON IS HERE………

FLU SEASON IS HERE………

…………AND WE HAVE VACCINE!!!

Every year Millions of Americans get sick and thousands die of influenza and its related complications.  Influenza is a highly contagious disease and although we do have medication to treat it, your best defense remains immunization.

Everyone over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated. The only exceptions include those who have a serious chicken egg allergy or people who have had a serious reaction to the flu vaccine in the past.

The 2011-2012 influenza vaccine is identical to the previous year’s vaccine and does include the pandemic H1N1 strain as well as an influenza A H3N2 strain and a strain of influenza B.

If you are needle phobic there is an alternative.  There is a nasal spray vaccine available for healthy individuals ages 2-49 who are not pregnant.

It takes about two weeks after vaccinations for enough antibodies to develop to protect against influenza virus infection.

SOME FACTS ABOUT INFLUENZA

Influenza is a respiratory illness that is mainly spread by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can travel quite a distance and infect  people nearby by either direct inhalation or when infected surfaces are touched.  Once infected, a person will manifest symptoms within a few days. Symptoms can  include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache  and fatigue.  An infected individual can infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop until  5-7 days after the first symptoms appear. If you think you have influenza it is important to seek medical attention early. We do have medication to treat this disease but it must be started with 48 hours of symptom onset.

BE PROACTIVE………VACCINATE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY TODAY!!!!!!!