Flu Shots
The flu shot is the most effective way to prevent infection.* All it takes is a few minutes to get vaccinated at work and you can protect yourself, your loved ones and your co-workers. Please contact your local store pharmacy to check availability and schedule a flu shot.
For more information, please visit the Cold and Flu Health Center. Here you will find a full index of information about colds and the flu.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has posted frequently asked flu questions 2016-2017 flu season.
Do You Know The Truth About The Flu?
The flu can cause serious health problems
Influenza is a virus that causes a contagious infection in the nose, throat and lungs. The flu usually lasts 3 to 7 days, though you may feel sick and have a cough for more than 2 weeks.* The flu can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death in people with chronic health problems.*
Do you need to be vaccinated?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccination for a variety of people. Are you on this list?
People who should get a flu shot:*†
- Anyone, even an active and healthy person, who doesn’t want to catch the flu
- All children 6 months through 18 years of age
- Parents, siblings, grandparents, babysitters and daycare providers for children who are younger than 6 months of age
- Household contacts and caregivers for people with health problems that put them at risk for complications
- Women who will be pregnant during the flu season
- Anyone 50 years of age or older
- Anyone with a medical condition such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, weakened immune system, diabetes or other serious health condition
Even if you’re not at risk for flu complications, others around you may be
If you catch the flu, you can spread the flu. Spreading the flu to people with other health problems can cause them to get seriously ill. You don’t have to come into daily contact with someone with health problems to spread the flu. You may attend a gathering – party, ceremony, sports event – where there are people at risk. Even the people you come across at the grocery store, mall or at work may not be healthy. This means if you do not receive the flu shot you may be putting these people in a lifethreatening situation.
Let’s set the facts straight
People believe many things about the flu and flu shots. Many of these beliefs are not true. Sometimes people don’t get the flu shots because they don’t know the truth about them. Here are some of the most common things people believe about the flu and the truth about each:
FICTION: I’m pretty healthy and hardly ever sick. I don’t need a flu shot.
FACT: Even healthy people can get and spread the flu. The flu can cause serious health problems, especially for those who already have a chronic illness or are too young to be vaccinated. If you catch and spread the flu to someone, it can cause a life-threatening health problem.*
FICTION: The flu shot can give me the flu.
FACT: You can’t get the flu from the flu shot. The injectable vaccine is made from killed viruses that can’t cause the flu.* The most common side effect from the shot is mild soreness where the injection was given. This usually goes away within a day or two.*
FICTION: The flu isn’t a big deal. Besides, you can’t do anything about it anyway.
FACT: The flu can be severe and sometimes lifethreatening. According to the CDC, the flu causes approximately 36,000 deaths and 226,000 hospitalizations in the US each year.* Getting your shot each year helps protect you against getting and spreading the flu.*
FICTION: I was vaccinated against the flu years ago. I don’t need to get vaccinated again.
FACT: Flu viruses change over time. Because of this, a new vaccine must be made each year.* You will still have protection even if the viruses change after you’ve had your shot.* If you get the shot and then get the flu, you won’t get as sick. That’s why you need to get a flu shot every year to help protect yourself and those around you.*
References:
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2007. MMWR. 2007;56(RR-6):1-54.
† ACIP. ACIP provisional recommendations for the prevention and control of influenza. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/provisional/downloads/flu-3-21-08-508.pdf. Posted March 25, 2008. Accessed June 24, 2008.
