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.

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. 

To get seasonal flu vaccine, you can:

• Look for locations offering flu shots at www.flu.gov
• Contact your health care providers
• Contact your local pharmacy

The following locations have flu vaccine available at no cost for those who meet the basic criteria of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level with no health insurance or with Medicaid or Medicare that does not cover the flu vaccine, ages 18 - 64.

Who should get the seasonal flu vaccine:

Health officials encourage everyone who is at least 6 months of age to get a flu vaccine this season. It’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated. Those people include:

• People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu including:

  >	People who have certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
  >	Pregnant women.
  >	People 65 years and older.

•  People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications including:

  >	household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

How do you prevent Influenza?

• 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

For more information about Seasonal flu visit: www.cdc.gov/flu/