Flu vaccinations are typically available through your doctor's office, your local Health Department or local drugstores.
Most insurance plans cover flu vaccinations as a "preventive benefit" with zero out-of-pocket costs for you. Check with your insurance company to see whether this is a covered benefit in your plan.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages everyone over 6 months old to get vaccinated. They especially urge high-risk individuals and anyone who expects to have contact with high risk individuals to get immunized.
If you are are allergic to chicken eggs, have ever had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), or have had severe reactions or illness due to past flu shots, talk to your doctor before getting the vaccine. If you are currently ill, wait until your symptoms lessen and then get vaccinated.
These groups of people have an even higher risk of getting complications from the flu and are most strongly urged to get the flu vaccine:
- Children ages 6 months to 19 years old
- Adults ages 65 years and older
- People with certain chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease, or a weakened immune system
- Women who will be pregnant during the flu season
- People who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
- Health-care workers
- People who come in contact with children younger than 6 months (such as childcare workers)
- People who live with any of the above high-risk individuals
If you have the flu, or another seasonal virus or illness, we recommend staying at home to reduce the spread. Many illnesses, including the flu, can be taken care of at home while monitoring symptoms. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your primary care provider.
Signs and symptoms of influenza can include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Vomiting or diarrhea
The flu can spread during close contact, mainly by droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking. Those with the flu can be contagious for a day before symptoms start to up to a week after.
Flu symptoms typically develop anywhere from one to four days after infection.
Most people with influenza are contagious for about one day before they show symptoms.
Get Vaccinated. Each year, researchers identify the three strains that are most likely to cause the majority of flu illness that season. They develop a flu vaccine from those strains. Getting vaccinated in the late fall and early winter can enable your body's immune system to develop antibodies against the strains of flu included in the vaccine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting vaccinated early -- as soon as the vaccine becomes available -- provides the best protection for you and your community. However, they still urge high risk people who have not been vaccinated by the end of November to get vaccinated in December or January, as flu activity continues well into the spring.
There are still steps you can take to help avoid the flu:
- Keep your distance. If you know someone who has the flu, give them plenty of space. If you are experiencing flu symptoms, avoid contact with others. The virus is spread through airborne transmission or personal contact. Never visit hospitals or nursing homes when you are sick.
- Wash your hands! The flu virus can survive on doorknobs, keyboards and other objects. Touch them, then touch your nose and mouth, and you've got it.
- Avoid sharing towels, cups or utensils.
- Avoid second-hand smoke. If you smoke, try to quit.
- Eat healthy, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep.
There are also prescription medications that have been approved for prevention of flu symptoms, for those who are unable to take the vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information about these medications.
Unfortunately, there isn't a cure for the flu, but your doctor can prescribe medications for treating the symptoms. There are also over-the-counter remedies that may help control your symptoms. Before using an over-the-counter medication, it is always wise to check with your doctor or pharmacist to be sure the product is right for you.
