Welcome fall weather, and welcome back flu season!

Starting as early as September, flu season continues into January and beyond, making NOW the best time to get vaccinated.  The 2010-2011 flu vaccine provides antibodies to protect against 2009 H1N1 and two other strains of the flu virus projected to cause the most illness this season (including H3B2, an influenza B virus).  These antibodies usually provide protection from these strains within 2 weeks of vaccination.  The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on an individual’s age and health status, as well as the similarity between the viruses in circulation and those in the vaccine.

Each year, approximately 5-20% of Americans contract the influenza virus, leading to more than 200,000 hospitalizations.  CDC experts recommend that everyone over the age of 6 months receive the flu vaccine, regardless of if they were vaccinated for 2009 H1N1 or the seasonal flu last season. Because of serious flu complications, many individuals are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for their personal safety or those who they live or work with:

• Pregnant women
• Children under 5, especially those under age 2
• People age 50+
• People with specific chronic conditions (such as asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, kidney and liver disorders, those with weakened immune systems [HIV/AIDS or cancer], morbid obesity, etc.)
• People who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
• People who work or live with persons who are at high risk for complications from the flu, such as
  • Healthcare workers
  • Household contacts of those with high risk of complications from the flu
  • Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

D.C. Immediate & Primary Care offers injections of the influenza vaccine, and no appointment is necessary.  Our medical staff will provide you with information on the vaccine and its potential side effects.

Don’t forget that thorough hand washing, protecting your cough, and staying home when sick are helpful ways to keep you and your loved ones healthy this flu season!

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

District of Columbia Department of Health

This entry was posted on Friday, October 29th, 2010 at 3:27 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.