A simple way to keep the flu away: Get vaccinated

You can prevent the flu this season by taking one simple step: Get a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone six months old and older get vaccinated, with few exceptions.

And now is the time to do so.

“You should get a flu vaccine because it’s going to build your immunity,” says Erica Merritt, clinical pharmacy specialist of emergency medicine in the Candler Hospital Emergency Department. “Prevention is the best method to help not only yourself but your family and the other people that are around you because the flu can spread very easily.”

The CDC recommends getting the flu shot once it becomes available, which is typically September or early October. Flu season starts in October and normally runs until March, but cases have been seen in the St. Joseph’s/Candler emergency departments into April.

Related Article: Flu shot saves lives

About the flu virus

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. Some people, especially those 65 and older, young children and people with certain health conditions are at higher risk of serious flu complications.

Having the flu can cause mild to severe illness and at times even lead to death. Flu symptoms can come on suddenly. People who get the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• A fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue

The flu virus can spread very easily, mainly by tiny droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. A person also might get the flu by touching surfaces or objects that have the flu virus on it and then touch their own mouth, nose or eyes.

On average, an estimated 28 million illnesses, including 420,000 hospitalizations and more than 35,000 deaths occur each year due to seasonal flu. A 2021 study showed that among adults, flu vaccination was associated with 26 percent lower risk of ICU admission and a 31 percent lower risk of death from flu compared to those who were unvaccinated.

The CDC, as well as St. Joseph’s/Candler health professionals, recommend a yearly flu vaccine as the best way to prevent flu and its potential serious complications. Even when flu vaccination does not prevent illness entirely, it has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.

“I would encourage people to do everything they possibly can to protect themselves from getting the flu, and your best chance of doing that is to get the vaccine,” Merritt says.

Additional ways to prevent the spread of the flu virus

Getting your flu shot is the best way to lower your risk of getting the flu or experiencing the nasty and sometimes serious symptoms that can come with it. But there are some additional steps you can take to prevent the spread of the flu.

1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.
4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is sick. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.