Sky Lakes Medical Center | Live Smart | Winter 2017

PREVENTION skylakes.org | LIVE smart 7 The flu sends as many as 710,000 Americans a year to the hospital. Your best protection against the flu: a yearly flu vaccine. Who needs it? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu. And it’s especially important that people at high risk for getting complications from the flu—such as pneumonia—get the vaccine. That high-risk group includes kids younger than 5 years old; adults 65 and older; pregnant women; and people who have chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. Anyone who lives with or is in close contact with someone on that list should also make getting the vaccine a priority. There’s good news for people who previously could not get a flu shot because they’re allergic to eggs, which are used to manufacture vaccines. A flu vaccine called Flublok, which is made without using eggs, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adults 18 and older. It takes several weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect. Since flu season can continue until May, the sooner you get your shot the better. What else can you do? Even if you’ve had your flu shot, you should take these steps to avoid the flu virus: w w Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner. w w Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. w w Stay away from sick people. It’s also important to minimize the spread of germs to others. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue away. If you get sick with a flu-like illness, stay home until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without taking a fever-reducing medicine. Don’t let the flu get you down Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FLU SEASON ALERT Influenza can be MISERABLE & DEADLY . Nearly EVERYONE 6 months or older should get a yearly flu vaccine. Vaccinate! Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. It takes 2 WEEKS for the flu vaccine to be fully effective. Walk right in! Sky Lakes Outpatient Pharmacy offers flu shots weekdays 10 a.m.–noon and 2–4 p.m. No appointment needed.