Disclaimer: Angelina is a Fort Worth Moms Blog (FWMB) contributor and a practicing pharmacist. The contents of this article are based on her experiences and expertise and not reflective of the opinions of FWMB or the City Moms Blog Network.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) have a great poster this year, which reads: “Who should get the flu shot?” There is a multiple-choice question with four possible answers including “you,” “you,” “you,” and “all of the above.”
I love it! I use it in every presentation to educate seniors, adults, and kids alike; the only way to prevent the flu is to get the (and everyone yells) flu shot! It drives in the point to protect yourself, your loved ones, and those in sneezing distance from you, yet many people opt not to get the flu shot. We have the same questions every year.
I decided to compile a list of dos and don’ts based on the many conversations I have had while doing my flu clinics.
Do
- Get your flu shot. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone six months and older every year. This year, all flu shots protect against four different strains of the flu virus, and so it’s called quadrivalent. There is one for the grandparents over 65 called Fluzone® High-Dose or FLUAD™. There is one for those who are allergic to eggs called FLUCELVAX QUADRIVALENT®; and, for those who are afraid of needles, there is a Fluzone intradermal.
The flu can be very dangerous for children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases. The CDC estimates that between 6,000 and 26,000 children younger than five years old are hospitalized each year. The flu vaccine is dead, attenuated virus injected into the muscle to evoke a strong immune response from your body to protect you against the flu. If you do get sick, the flu vaccine will make your illness milder. - Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. The flu virus is spread mainly by droplets made when someone with a flu coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land on surfaces, and another person can touch the surface and get infected. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may come in contact with the virus.
- Go to the doctor. Get a prescription antiviral to treat the illness if it occurs, especially in young kids and pregnant women.
- Rest and hydrate. Make sure your child gets lots of rest and fluids if he or she gets the flu.
Don’t
- Do not sneeze or cough on others. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and avoid others if you are sick to prevent the spread of the virus. Use a tissue, and throw it in the trash after use.
- Do not send your children to school if they are sick. They need to stay home and rest for at least 24 hours after the fever (greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit) is gone to avoid spreading the flu to other children. It is recommended that the fever should be gone without use of a fever reducer (e.g. Tylenol or Ibuprofen). The incubation period is anywhere from one to four days, and people can infect others from one day before showing symptoms and from five to seven days afterward.
- Do not ignore emergency warning signs. If your children develop fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish-gray skin color, refusal to drink enough fluids, severe vomiting, lethargy, or recurring fever with rash, take them to the emergency room.
For more information about flu season or the flu vaccine, visit www.cdc.gov/flu — or you can ask your friendly neighborhood pharmacist. Have a healthy flu season, and stay warm!
