The flu: what you need to know

There has been a great deal of attention to the Flu since the significant rise in cases this year and the tragic death of one of our students. 

The flu is a virus that appears in the mid to late fall and leaves in February or March each year. The virulence and spread of the virus depend upon which one of the many circulating flu strains in the world happens to make it to our area. The virus is highly infectious and is spread by droplets from coughing or sneezing. Some years are worse than others, as it is this year, due the viruses’ uncanny ability to adapt, mutate and evolve into a more infectious form. 

A panel of infectious disease experts meet every spring to evaluate which strains are circulating in Asia and South America in order to decide what are the most likely to come our way and therefore which three or four should be in the vaccine that will be produced for the coming fall/winter season. Since it is a best scientific guess as to which ones will make it to our shores, the vaccine may be more (60% to 70%) specific or less (40% or less). But it is important to realize that the vaccine, even if not containing the flu virus that you may have, confers the benefit of a potentially less severe course or length of the illness. More importantly a 2017 study revealed that patients who had a flu vaccine were less likely to be hospitalized which suggests the possibility of fewer deaths. 

The logical extension of this is that a vaccine can be beneficial any time before contracting the flu. The season runs through late February and often into March so it is not too late to benefit from a vaccination. The protective effects are maximal after two weeks. 

You may call Vine cottage at (203) 594-3076 to make an appointment for a vaccination with our remaining stock. It costs $30 cash or check only. We do accept Medicare at the allowable rate. We have the Sanofi High Dose Flu Zone for those 65 and over as well as the quadrivalent, preservative free individual dose. Several local Pharmacies can also provide vaccines and may accept insurance. 

Please consider a flu vaccination if you have not had one yet this year! 

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You can do a number of things to protect yourself and others from the flu. The CDC offers the following information: 

Influenza (flu) is a contagious disease that can be serious. Every year, millions of people get sick, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu. CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from flu: 
• A yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. 
• Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year before flu activity begins in their community. 
• CDC recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October, if possible. 
• Avoid close contact with sick people; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands often (with soap and water), and clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with flu viruses. 
• If you become sick, limit contact with others as much as possible. Remember to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw tissues in the trash after 

you use them. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. 
• Please note that your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine before resuming normal activities. 
• If you get the flu, your doctor may order an antiviral drug which can be used to treat flu illness. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia. 
• CDC recommends that antiviral drugs be used early to treat people who are very sick with the flu (for example, people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with the flu and are at high risk of serious flu complications, either because of their age or because they have a high-risk medical condition. 

The CDC has more information on their website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm  You may follow up with the Health Department if you questions about getting a vaccination. 

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Submitted by New Canaan, CT

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