Friday, February 1, 2013
The flu is always more dangerous to those 65 and older, but it is worse this year because the prevalent flu strain is especially dangerous to older people.
A recent USA Today report says the flu, which is always more dangerous for elderly people, is even more dangerous this year due to the predominant strain of the virus. That prevalent flu strain, H3N2, has not circulated much since 2005, so people have little immunity to it unless they were vaccinated this year. But it's not too late to get a flu shot, the report says, and several more weeks of the flu season are still ahead. If people, especially the elderly, start to feel ill, they should contact their doctor quickly, Michael Jhung, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in the report. Antiviral drugs, taken within 48 hours of the onset of the flu, are helpful in preventing complications and keeping …
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Does a flu shot cause the flu? Do healthy people need a shot? Here are the answers to some popular myths.
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Saturday, January 19
The flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family. However, misconceptions about vaccination persist. Here are seven common myths about the vaccination. Flu Myth #1 A Flu Shot Causes the Flu No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. The influenza viruses contained in a flu shot are inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the vaccine during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu vaccine are tested to make sure they are safe. In randomized, blinded studies, where some people get flu shots and others get salt-water shots, the only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who …
Monday, January 14, 2013
This year's vaccine categorized as only moderately effective.
Think getting a flu shot will provide complete protection against the flu? Think again. During a Jan. 11 press briefing, Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said this year's influenza vaccine has an overall effectiveness of 62 percent. "That means that if you got vaccinated you were about 60 percent less likely to get the flu that required you to go to your doctor," Frieden said according to a transcript of the briefing. "So what we have known for a long time is that the flu vaccine is far from perfect. But it's still by far the best tool we have to prevent the flu," he added. At 62 percent effectiveness, nearly four in 10 people who have been vaccinated will still get the flu if exposed to …
Monday, January 7, 2013
Eight employees at an Indiana hospital were recently fired after refusing to be vaccinated against the flu.
- OPINION
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Monday, January 7
Where do an employee's rights end? Is it reasonable to expect those employed in certain occupation submit to mandatory vaccinations? ABC News reports that eight employees at Indiana University Health Goshen Hospital were recently fired after refusing to participate in a mandatory vaccination program. The hospital maintains the flu shot requirement was implemented in the interest of patient safety. "IU Health's top priority is the health and wellbeing of our patients," said hospital spokeswoman Whitney Ertel in a released statement. "Participation in the annual Influenza Patient Safety Program is a condition of employment with IU Health for the health and safety of the patients that we serve, and is therefore required." The hospital employs…
Sunday, January 6, 2013
CDC reports flu is widespread and continuing to increase.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the flu is now widespread and the number of cases are continuing to increase. “Reports of influenza-like-illness (ILI) are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons,” according to Dr. Joe Bresee. Breese advises it is not too late to get a flu shot. “Anyone who has not already been vaccinated should do so now,” Bresee said in a released statement. “And it’s important to remember that people who have severe influenza illness, or who are at high risk of serious influenza-related complications, should get treated with influenza antiviral medications if they get flu symptoms regardless of whether or not they got vaccinated. Also, you don’t need to wait for a …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Here's where to get an influenza vaccine.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Friday, December 14, 2012
Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States. Overall in Georgia, activity is considered intense now, while it was considered moderate at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends. Flu Trends is a Google tool that uses aggregated search data to estimate flu activity. If you're considering getting a flu shot, here are some places in Dacula that offer the vaccine: Kroger Pharmacy, 505 Dacula Road Publix Pharmacy, 2463 Hamilton Mill Parkway CVS Pharmacy, 3027 Jim Moore Road You can find more locations here or by typing in your ZIP Code above. According to this week's CDC Flu activity report, influenza levels are on the increase across the country. Five states – Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee – are reporting …
Saturday, December 8, 2012
There have been a larger number of suspected flu cases than usual in five Southern states, and this year's strain may be more virulent.
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Saturday, December 8, 2012
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of United States residents have already been vaccinated against the influenza virus. Health officials aim to increase that percentage, especially since this year's season may be a bad one. Influenza—more commonly known as simply "the flu"—is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads via infected people coughing, sneezing or talking, though people can also get infected by touching something with the flu virus on it before touching their mouth, eyes or nose. The 2012-2013 season is shaping up to be one of the worst flu seasons in a while, officials from the CDC said in a Dec. 3 teleconference. There have …
Elizabeth
10:40 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
My husband and I did get a flu shot (as we have for several years), and so far neither of us has ever gotten the flu. more ›