It’s that time again; flu season is just around the corner.

Who should get vaccinated?

 

 

 

 

• Anyone who wants to reduce their chance of getting the flu
• Children who are age 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People of any age with chronic medical conditions

Flu Facts

Seasonal Flu

• The CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal flu.
• This vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common.
• Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions (like asthma, diabetes, heart and lung disease), and people 65 and older.
• A seasonal flu vaccine also is important for health care workers and other people who live with or care for high risk people to prevent giving the flu to those at high risk.

H1N1 Flu

• A seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against H1N1.
• A new vaccine against novel H1N1 is being produced and will be available in the coming months as an option for prevention of novel H1N1 infection.
• People at greatest risk for novel H1N1 infection include children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease.

Treatment Options for the Flu and Novel H1N1

• Take flu antiviral drugs if recommended.
• If you get seasonal or novel H1N1 flu, antiviral drugs can treat the flu.
• Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
• Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster.  They may also prevent serious flu complications.
• Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics.
• Antiviral drugs may be especially important for people who are very sick (hospitalized) or people who are sick with the flu and who are at increased risk for serious flu complications, such as pregnant women, young children and those with chronic health conditions.
• For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within the first 2 days of symptoms.

Published 08/28/09