Roll up your sleeve -- flu season is here

Published Aug. 31, 2011
By 1st Lt. Brittany Chase
81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler, it's that time again--the flu season has begun.

This year's flu shot, just as last year's, protects against the seasonal flu and H1N1. Even though this year's vaccine is the same as last year's, the Centers for Disease Control recommend an annual vaccine for "optimal protection." Once again, both the FluMist and intramuscular shots are available.

The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine containing killed virus, while the FluMist is a live attenuated vaccine, meaning the flu strain used to create the vaccine has been reduced to a harmless or less virulent form to keep the pathogen live.

This year's vaccine can be expected to reduce laboratory-confirmed influenza by approximately 70 to 90 percent in healthy adults under 65 years of age.

The CDC urges susceptible populations, such as children, elderly people, pregnant women and immunocompromised people to receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

An estimated 5 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu every year so it's important for all people 6 months and older to get vaccinated.

At Keesler, all active-duty members are required to get vaccinated. Flu is spread from person to person through droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Most people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and five to seven days after becoming sick. Some may not show symptoms at all. That means that people may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before knowing they are sick, as well as while they are sick. Considering how quickly flu can spread, getting immunized not only protects you, but all around you as well.

Here are some ways to keep yourself and your families healthy this flu season:

Get vaccinated.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water aren't avaible, use an alcohol-based hand rub.Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are having flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or muscle aches, see your doctor.

For more information on influenza, please visit the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ or call the public health office, 376-3163.

Roll up your sleeve — flu season is here