Tuesday, September 20, 2011
It’s not too early to get a flu shot
Fall is a great time for a flu shot to protect you and your loved ones before it is too late.
It takes about two weeks for the body to develop immunity after getting vaccinated, so getting a vaccine in October or early November can protect you for the season.
And in addition to the obvious health benefits, flu shots can save you time and money.
The flu can tie you down for 10 days or more, and you end up paying the price through healthcare costs and loss of work. If you are proactive, this can be avoided and you will also protect yourself and loved ones.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, but especially for those with health issues that can make the flu more dangerous for them, such as heart problems, diabetes and compromised immune systems.
Most healthy adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for even longer.
It is especially important for healthcare workers to get the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, recommend that all healthcare workers get an annual flu vaccine to help protect themselves, their families at home and their patients at work.
Flu outbreaks in hospitals and long-term care facilities have been attributed to low vaccination rates among healthcare professionals. At Backus Hospital, our goal is 100% vaccination and we have multiple flu clinics scheduled for our employees and volunteers, because we know that many of the patients we care for our compromised.
For the public, flu shots are available at Backus Health Centers in Colchester, Montville, Ledyard and Plainfield.
The flu can be fatal in immune-compromised people, such as the elderly, infants and those with medical conditions. The flu can cause serious complications in people with chronic lung diseases, diabetes, heart disease, neurological conditions and pregnancy.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three different influenza viruses that research shows will be most common during the upcoming season. The 2011-2012 vaccine will protected against H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B virus.
Parents may want to ask their pediatricians about the nasal-spray flu vaccine, which is an option for healthy people ages 2-49.
The bottom line is this: Get your flu shot now and you can rest easier later.
Christine Orsini is a registered nurse with Concentra and Employee Health Nurse at The William W. Backus Hospital. The information in this column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Orsini or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
It takes about two weeks for the body to develop immunity after getting vaccinated, so getting a vaccine in October or early November can protect you for the season.
And in addition to the obvious health benefits, flu shots can save you time and money.
The flu can tie you down for 10 days or more, and you end up paying the price through healthcare costs and loss of work. If you are proactive, this can be avoided and you will also protect yourself and loved ones.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, but especially for those with health issues that can make the flu more dangerous for them, such as heart problems, diabetes and compromised immune systems.
Most healthy adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for even longer.
It is especially important for healthcare workers to get the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, recommend that all healthcare workers get an annual flu vaccine to help protect themselves, their families at home and their patients at work.
Flu outbreaks in hospitals and long-term care facilities have been attributed to low vaccination rates among healthcare professionals. At Backus Hospital, our goal is 100% vaccination and we have multiple flu clinics scheduled for our employees and volunteers, because we know that many of the patients we care for our compromised.
For the public, flu shots are available at Backus Health Centers in Colchester, Montville, Ledyard and Plainfield.
The flu can be fatal in immune-compromised people, such as the elderly, infants and those with medical conditions. The flu can cause serious complications in people with chronic lung diseases, diabetes, heart disease, neurological conditions and pregnancy.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three different influenza viruses that research shows will be most common during the upcoming season. The 2011-2012 vaccine will protected against H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B virus.
Parents may want to ask their pediatricians about the nasal-spray flu vaccine, which is an option for healthy people ages 2-49.
The bottom line is this: Get your flu shot now and you can rest easier later.
Christine Orsini is a registered nurse with Concentra and Employee Health Nurse at The William W. Backus Hospital. The information in this column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Orsini or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
# posted by ----------------- @ 8:18 AM 
