Not sure if you and your family should get the flu shot this year? Here’s the lowdown on flu prevention and how to decide if your family should get the flu shot.
By Lorraine Grypstra
The flu virus is spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing. People can also get the flu by touching objects or surfaces with the virus on them and then touching their mouth or nose. When you get the flu it affects the breathing system. Symptoms can vary from person-to-person, but symptoms commonly include: fever, chills, cough, runny eyes, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, extreme weakness and fatigue. Children can also experience earaches, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
Keeping Healthy
The easiest way to stay healthy is to wash your hands frequently. You should wash your hands and your child’s hands before handling or eating food, after using the toilet, after sneezing or wiping your nose, after changing diapers and whenever hands are dirty.
In order for hand washing to kill the flu virus you need to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If there is no water available, use a naturally antibacterial, alcohol-free sanitizer. Natural ingredients such as thyme, wood cellulose and vegetable glycerin can fight germs without harsh chemicals.
It’s also a good idea to avoid sharing food and drinks, and to teach children to cover their mouths with an elbow when they cough or sneeze. Rest and healthy food will also help keep you and your family healthy. Also, almost everyone should get a flu shot.
Getting the Flu Shot
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or visit a public clinic to find out about getting the flu shot for your family. The timing and severity of the flu season is unpredictable. In North American, the flu most often peaks in February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October so it’s a good idea to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered – usually around early- to mid-October.
Should I get the Flu Shot if I’m Pregnant?
Pregnant women are more likely to suffer severe illness from the flu than other women. An unborn baby could also have serious problems due to premature labour and delivery. Therefore, pregnant women should get the flu vaccination.
Is my Baby too Young for the Flu Shot?
Babies under six months of age cannot get the flu shot. If your infant is too young, you can help keep her healthy by getting the shot yourself and preventing her from putting another child’s toys in her mouth.
Young children over the age of six months should get the flu shot. In fact, serious illness from the flu is most common for children under age two, and it’s common for children under the age of five to need medical care when they get the flu. VM
A Flu Shot Bonus
Very few people die from the flu. Most die from staphylococcal pneumonia resulting from the flu. Getting the flu shot can reduce the severity of the flu if you do get it and reduce the risk of getting a staph infection.
