Fresno Unified working to keep flu season in check at schools

“Typically in this hemisphere, flu starts in about October”. Those studies looked at children suffering from any acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs).

Stop Flu at School, the state’s annual school-located vaccination program, will offer free flu vaccine to elementary and middle school children at public, private and charter schools statewide.

Elliott said that even in years when the flu vaccine isn’t as good of a match for the actual strains in the population, getting vaccinated can still reduce the severity of the virus.

“We’re not recommending that any changes be made to the vaccination policy”, Croen told Reuters Health.

The results support the overall safety profile of the vaccine, write the researchers, who were led by Anders Hviid, of the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen. There is a needleless system option for those with a fear of needles.

The epidemiologist said both Influenza A and Influenza B have been seen this season in Southwest Georgia, but there are not now any big clusters of the illness in the region.

Norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes stomach or intestinal inflammation, is commonly seen in long-term care facilities where there are more people in one place with limited mobility.

Despite these disturbing statistics, there’s been a slight drop in the number of those who get vaccinated: 45 percent of the US population got shots last year, a 1.5 percent decrease than the year before that.

Influenza vaccinations are recommended for all Minnesotans 6 months of age and older.

People can still get vaccinations through sources such as family doctors and pharmacies, Hoyano said. “Certain people can develop serious complications”, says Bhide. Everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine each flu season. Since the virus in the vaccine is killed, it cannot cause the flu, although a few people may feel a little “fluish” for a day or two after vaccination, which can be a side effect.

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with water and soap, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This is particularly important before leaving the bathroom, eating or touching your face. “Seek medical care if you become very sick or are anxious about your illness”.

The flu shot can not give you the flu.

Keep your vaccines up to date.

A flu expert is calling for health funding authorities to consider funding wider access to the free flu vaccine following research showing many people are carriers of the virus every winter without realising it. Even if you have already gotten sick with the flu this season, it is still a good idea to get a flu vaccine. The vaccine is limited so they request that you call ahead for an appointment at 208-533-3235. A prescription medication is available for some patients who have had flu symptoms for less than 48 hours.