The leaves are changing color, the temperatures are dropping, and the kids are back in school.
It can only mean one thing, flu season is here! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season in the United States usually ranges from October through March, and sometimes into early spring.
Flu or influenza is caused by viruses, which infect the nose, throat and lungs. Flu is also very contagious.
The CDC says a person can spread the flu starting one day before he or she even feels sick, and continue to pass the flu virus to others for several days after symptoms start. Those symptoms can include: fever, chills, dry cough, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.
Here’s what you need to know:
Who Needs a Shot? Everyone over six months of age, unless the person is allergic to eggs, has severe allergies to other substances or has had a reaction to a flu shot in the past.
It is especially important that pregnant women, children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Also people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including: health care workers, household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu, household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).
Even people who had seasonal or H1N1 flu vaccines in 2009 or this year should get a new vaccine.
What Does it Do? This year’s vaccine protects people against three strains of flu: A/H1N1 (swine or pandemic), influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B.
When Should I Get It?
As soon as possible. It takes up to two weeks for a person’s body to create protection after a flu vaccination. Flu already is widespread in Mexico and Central America, according to the World Health Organization.
Where Can I get Vaccinated?
Flu vaccine is widely available this year. People can get a shot at their doctor’s office, pharmacies, health centers and flu clinics.
Cape Community Health Center will be hosting a flu clinic on Thurs., Oct. 7 and 14 from 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. If you’re a patient and have seen a doctor in the past 30 days the shot is free, if you’re not a patient you can still get the shot for the low price of $15.
Cape Community Health Center is located at 410 Route 9 North in Court House (across from the TD Bank). Stop in the 7th or the 14th or make an appointment by calling 609-465-0258.
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