Category: CDC Alerts
The Flu Shot: Seniors’ Best Bet for Avoiding Influenza
Everyone knows how miserable the flu can be: fever, body aches, dry cough, headaches, and a sore throat that can last anywhere from a few days to weeks. Each year, between five and twenty percent of the population is infected with the flu and over 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications. For some people, flu is a mild illness. However, few people realize that in many cases, the flu can be deadly, especially for seniors. In the U.S. each year, the flu and its complications cause more deaths than breast cancer,[1] and two to three times as many deaths as HIV/AIDS.[2] Ninety percent of flu-related deaths occur in those 65 years of age and older.
The good news is that getting a flu shot is the single most effective way to prevent the flu. On average, the flu vaccine reduces the risk of death by fifty percent within the senior population. Medicare will pay for the shot (when Medicare Part B is the primary medical insurance), and so will many private health insurance plans. Flu shots are offered at a variety of locations, including senior facilities, public health facilities, churches, doctors’ offices, and retail locations, such as pharmacies and grocery stores. Maxim Health Systems provides flu clinics nationwide at locations such as these, which can be searched for on info.findaflushot.com. Visitors to the site can locate the flu clinic locations nearest to them by simply typing in their zip code. The Web site also provides flu news, FAQs, and other important resources.
Contrary to a popular myth, you cannot get the flu from the vaccine since it is made from inactive influenza viruses. Keep in mind that even if you received a flu shot last year, you still need to receive another one this year to remain protected. Each year the flu strain changes and a new vaccine is developed to provide the best possible protection.
Good health habits like covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and washing your hands often can also help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. Remember to wash your hands frequently when you are around someone who is sick and make a point of washing them before eating and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you can, avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are not feeling well, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. This will help stop the flu from spreading.
Still have questions about the flu and the flu vaccine? Go to info.findaflushot.com to learn more and to find a flu clinic in your area.
[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Breast Cancer Statistics,” http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/
[2] HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report: HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2005, http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/