City Health Department chosen for flu information network

You can find relevant information about the flu by clicking right here. Healthcare personnel are also encouraged to get a flu vaccine to protect themselves and their patients during the flu season.

Health officials say if you got the vaccine now, you’d be protected against the flu over the holidays. “Flu is a serious illness that is especially risky for older people, pregnant women, young children, and those with certain chronic medical conditions”.

Flu activity typically increases in the winter months when people spend more time indoors around each other. “The good news is there is still time to protect others by protecting yourself and with so many gatherings of friends and family this time of year, why wouldn’t you get vaccinated?” It takes about two weeks after vaccination to build immunity to the virus, according to Acting Health Commissioner Cathleen D. Bennett.

The CDC estimates that 5 percent to 20 percent of people nationwide contract the flu each year, and more than 200,000 people nationwide are hospitalized for illnesses related to influenza infection. “It takes all of us to prevent the spread of flu”. People ages 2 to 49 that prefer the nasal spray flu vaccine may have had difficulty locating it this season due to production delays; however, it is becoming more widely available. Health care providers may charge for the office visit or include a fee to give the vaccine. “Many organizations that have instituted mandatory vaccination initiatives have seen large improvements in vaccination rates among health care workers”, LaVela, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email.