Health & Wellness Tips

It’s Time to Get the Flu Vaccine – We have the Flu Vaccine!

•  The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.

•  While there are many different flu strands, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses research suggests will be most common.

•  The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against the influenza A H3N2 virus, the influenza B virus, and the 2009 H1N1 virus that was prevalent last year.

•  Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the 2010-2011 vaccine is available.

•  People at high -risk for serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart and lung disease, and people over 65 years old.

•  Vaccination of high-risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.

•  Flu vaccination is also important for healthcare workers, and those people who live or care for high-risk people to keep from spreading the flu.

•  Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness but are too young to be vaccinated. People who take care of them should be vaccinated instead.