If you have not, don’t worry, the flu vaccine is still available. But it does take about two weeks for the vaccine to fully protect an individual from the flu, so if you have forgotten to get this done in the fall, better think about getting it now.
Dr. Karen Smith, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and State Public Health Officer, says that it is especially important for pregnant women and other people at higher risk for severe influenza to be vaccinated against the flu bug.
Flu causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. This year’s vaccine has been updated to include the influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B (Yamagata lineage) strains to match the viruses Californians are likely to face this flu season. During the 2014-15 flu season, California reported 78 deaths in persons under 65 years of age associated with influenza.
Many of us are likely to meet family and friends during the winter holidays at a time when we are somewhat more vulnerable to illness. The rush preceding the holidays can wear us out and weaken our immune systems so we are susceptible to whatever “bugs” are going around.
Besides encouraging vaccination, the CDPH encourages us to protect our health by eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep and not smoking. If you suspect that you may have the flu, you should stay home from work or school, cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, wash hands frequently with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
For more information about the flu, visit the CDPH influenza web page. To find a flu vaccine location near you, visit www.flu.gov.
