Fighting the Flu

RAHD recommends that everyone get a flu shot to prevent spread of flu. Anyone can get influenza, or the "flu", but there are some people who have a greater chance of getting very sick from it. If you have questions about the flu shot, check out the CDC's Flu Shot Q&A to have it answered.

The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot every year. People who get a shot might still get sick, but their illness is usually much milder and they generally have fewer complications. Flu shots are usually available starting in October. There are a record number of flu shots available this year BUT there are sometimes problems with the distribution network. Call your provider or check with a clinic before going for vaccine. A schedule of Health Department clinics can be found here. If they don't have any in stock right now, they will have it soon, so keep trying!

RAHD is working hard to make sure that those people most at risk of experiencing serious complications of the flu get the vaccine, but everyone should consider it part of their annual health plan. People who are not at high risk can still spread the flu to those at high risk, so in order to protect the most vulnerable, we need everyone to get vaccinated!

Those at highest risk include:
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Adults aged 50 years and older
• Persons aged 2 - 64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions
• Children under the age of 5
• Children aged 6 months - 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy
• Health-care workers involved in direct patient care
• Women who will be pregnant during the flu season
• Caregivers and household contacts of people at highest risk

The very old and the very young are most at risk for complications from the flu. RAHD works closely with area nursing homes to promote proper respiratory etiquette, stress hand hygiene, monitor patients for the fist sign of illness, and encourage staff to get vaccinated and stay home when they're sick. RAHD recommends nursing homes screen visitors for illness and do not allow ill visitors to enter the home. RAHD also has the following recommendations about day care centers:

Sick staff should stay home! Do not send sick children to day care. Children with fever and cough or sore throat should be sent or kept home. Have a separate room for children younger than 6 months and have only certain staff care for these children. These very young infants are too young for a flu shot, but their caretakers should get a shot to keep from spreading the flu to these vulnerable children. The FluMist vaccine (a live vaccine given through the nose, instead of as a shot) is encouraged for healthy persons aged 5 - 49 years who are not pregnant, including: health-care workers (some exceptions) and persons caring for children under 6 months of age.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu, but it isn't the only way. Some other things you can do:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you're sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick. If you must go out when you're sick, wear a mask.
• Stay home from work or school if you are sick. Do not send sick children to school or day care. You will help prevent others from catching the flu.
• Please use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose, or sneeze into the bend of your arm. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Please throw the tissue away in the trash immediately after you use it.
• Please wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Wash your hands with soap and hot water for 15-20 seconds and dry your hands completely with a paper towel. You can also use alcohol-based hand gels.

For more information contact:
Sylvia Newport (540) 899-4142
Elizabeth Lowery (540) 899-4797