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While much attention has been focused on novel H1N1
(swine) flu, it's important to remember that seasonal
influenza is a serious illness that each year kills about
36,000 Americans and sends more than 200,000 to the
hospital. Complications of seasonal flu can include
bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections,
dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions,
such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.
Because this year's flu season is complicated by the
spread of H1N1 flu, getting vaccinated is the best way to
protect yourself and your family from seasonal flu. We
strongly urge everyone to get a seasonal flu shot as a way
to minimize illness in our community. Call your health
care provider for more information.
A seasonal vaccine will not protect you against H1N1
(swine) flu. The H1N1 vaccine will not protect you
against seasonal flu. Therefore, health officials urge
people to get the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine
when it becomes widely available to the general public.
To get a seasonal flu shot, you can:
-
Contact your
health care
providers
-
Contact your
local pharmacy
-
Visit the
Flu Vaccine
Locator to
find clinics
near you
-
Click Here...For
a list of
Immunization
Clinics in
Thurston County
for children
birth through 18
years.
[PDF]
Who should get the seasonal flu
vaccine:
Health officials encourage everyone to get vaccinated for
seasonal flu, especially those most at risk of complications
that include:
-
Children ages 6
months to 19
years old
-
Pregnant women
-
People ages 50
and older
-
People of any
age with certain
chronic medical
conditions
-
People who live
in nursing homes
and other
long-term
facilities
-
People who live
with or care for
those at high
risk for
complications
from seasonal
flu, including:
-
> Health
care workers
-
>
Household
contacts of
people at high
risk for
complications
from seasonal
flu
-
>
Household
contacts and
out-of-home
caregivers of
children younger
than 6
months (these
children are too
young to be
vaccinated)
- Cover your mouth and nose.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or with a tissue. Dispose of tissue in the nearest waste receptacle.
If you cough or sneeze into your hands, you risk the
spreading disease when you touch surface that others
come in contact with.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
The key is to
wash thoroughly with warm water, and to wash frequently.
When hand washing is not possible, use antiseptic hand gels
that contain alcohol.
- Stay home if you are sick. If
you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at
least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get
medical care or other necessities. (Your fever
should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing
medicine). Keep away from others as much as
possible to prevent spreading illness.
For more information
Call the Thurston County Public
Health & Social Services Public Information Line:
(360) 709-3080
For more information about Seasonal flu visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
(CDC Site)
For more information about H1N1 (swine) flu visit:
http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/personalhealth/influenza/swineflu.html
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