Yes, it is THAT time of year again, when all the sniffling and sneezing of ragweed season begins to change to the sniffling and sneezing of the cold and flu season. Perhaps you have already seen the signs outside your local pharmacy urging you to come in and make an appointment.
Or perhaps you have been hesitating because you believe many of the myths about the flu vaccination.
If you are a parent, a caregiver, work in a health-related field, are over 50, or are in a responsible job lke that of a teacher, or one in which you will be exposed to many people, including children, for most of your day, you will be doing yourself a favor and everyone around you one as well by getting a flu shot. It does not guarantee you immunity, but it can certain cut down on your risk of getting it.
If you have a compromised immune system, then you will definitely want to consider getting one in order to stay safe. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, the World Health Organization has a special vaccination for you..
The strains of flu which have been going around in the past few years are a far more deadly strain, often leading to a variety of complications. The most common of these complications, pneumonia, can also be a killer.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that meningitis can start out resembling the symptoms of a cold or the flu in the morning, and turn deadly by dinner time. It can affect young people in schools, where germs often run rampant, and older people, particularly those in a community setting such as a day care center, nursing home or hospital.
The Fluzone High-Dose vaccine is designed specifically for seniors, age 65 years and older and gives four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibody) as a regular flu shot, which creates a stronger immune response, for better protection.
This extra protection is particularly helpful to seniors who have weaker immune systems, and therefore a greater risk of developing dangerous flu complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the flu puts more than 200,000 people in the hospital each yea, and kills almost 24,000. 95% of those deaths are amongst seniors.
Therefore, it pays to get the flu shot once you are over age 65 provided that there are no contraindications, such as an allergy to eggs from chickens (where the vaccine is cultivated), or any past severe reaction to a flu vaccine.
To locate a vaccination site that offers the Fluzone High-Dose, rather than the regular flu shot, ask your doctor or pharmacist, or check the online flu-shot locator at flu.gov for clinics or stores offering flu shots.
Then contact your local pharmacists to see whether they have the High-Dose vaccine. CVS, Walgreens, Safeway, Kmart, Rite Aid and Kroger were amongst some of the chains offering the High-Dose shot last year, so if you have one in your area, call in advance to see if it is in stock, and the hours that someone will be there to administer the shot.
If you are a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will cover 100 percent of the cost of your High-Dose vaccination. If you are not covered, the cost will be around $60. That is about twice the cost of the regular flu shot, but the added peace of mind, especially if you are a senior or working in a high-risk job that would be likely to leave you exposed to the virus, can be well worth it.
Remember, the flu is a serious illness and in certain populations, it can be deadly. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Get your flu shot today, and also consider the pneumonia shot, meningitis shots, and shingles shots that are now available and approved for seniors concerned abouot their health.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO WARD OFF FLU
In addition to getting vaccinated, as always, common sense is key. The three best ways to stay healthy during flu season are to:
*cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze,
*wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water;
*avoid sick people;
*stay home if you’re sick.
Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hand. Instead, try to duck your head into your upper forearm to cover your mouth and nose. If you do use a tissue or blow your nose after you sneeze, throw it away and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
You may wish to be brave and soldier on at work, but just think of all the people you might be passing along your germs to. In addition, desks themselves are dirty breeding grounds for bacteria, with a recent study showing that they are far more dirty than a toilet because we don’t clean our desks as often.
Don’t give germs a chance to breed and spread. But in case they do, protect yourself with a vaccine against flu, pneumonia, meningitis and shingles, especially if you are a senior and/or have other health issues.
FURTHER READING
Colds and Flu: How to Stay Safe
