Flu season is upon us once again! It’s time to prepare and take necessary precautions to fight off and, hopefully, avoid the flu altogether. Here are 10 important things you need to know about the 2014 Flu Season:
Peak Season – Historically, the peak season for influenza is between December and February, although cases have been reported as early as October and as late as May.
2 Doses for Young Children – According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years old may need 2 doses of vaccine to be fully protected from the flu.
Best Time to Get Vaccinated – The CDC recommends you receive your flu vaccination just as soon as it is available. This is typically in October.
3 Virus Protection – This year’s vaccine protects against the 3 most commonly circulated viruses – Influenza A (H1N1) viruses, influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and influenza B viruses.
How Long Will it Last? – Studies show that a single vaccination should be plenty to last through the 2014 season. This may be different for elderly people or those with extremely weak immune systems.
Prevention Counts – Everyday prevention of illness is still just as important as ever. Be sure to wash your hands frequently and avoid contact with people who are ill. Keep surfaces, toys, and doorknobs clean.
Nasal Spray for Kids – This year, the CDC is recommending nasal spray vaccine for children ages 2 – 8. Reports show that the nasal spray vaccination may work better than a shot for children in this age range. However, if the nasal spray vaccination isn’t available, don’t wait for it. Take the shot instead.
Millions of Doses – Based on projections from the major companies involved in producing the vaccination, there will be as many as 159 million doses available for the 2014 flu season.
Jet Injector Option – This past August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a jet injector device that delivers the vaccine through a high-pressure, narrow stream of fluid. This is for people ages 18 – 64.
Treatment is Available – In some cases, people still get the flu even if they have received vaccination. There are antiviral drugs that can be used to treat the flu by making the symptoms milder and helping you to feel better faster.
AllKids Urgent Care does have flu vaccines available for our patients. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we receive more. Please visit us or give us a call to set up an appointment so your child can receive their vaccination as soon as possible.