IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN—FLU SEASON IS BACK!

Winter can bring many happy things—but the flu isn’t one of them. No one wants the aches, fever, chills, cough and general misery the influenza virus inflicts. More than that, flu can be downright dangerous. It causes about thousands of deaths each year, mostly to the very young and very old, and sends hundreds of thousands to the hospital.

The flu virus changes from year to year. What is this year’s like? Experts predict that the circulating strains will be the same as last year’s, though it’s difficult to predict the impact it will have on the community.

“We’re never sure,” says Carolyn Palmer, inflection prevention and control coordinator at Augusta Health. “Will it be mild or severe? We just don’t know.”

She does know the best way to prevent the flu—the flu vaccine. This year’s vaccine contains strains of three different flu bugs, including H1N1. The vaccine can be given as an injection, or healthy individuals ages 2 to 49 may choose to get the vaccine through a nasal spray. The best time to get vaccinated is in the fall, but you can still be vaccinated later in the year. “The flu season usually doesn’t end until April,” she says.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone older than age 6 months get vaccinated this flu season. Children younger than age 9 may need a booster shot as well. Though the vaccine is the same as last year’s, it’s important to get vaccinated again since the level of immunity decreases through the year.

“The vaccine is safe for almost everyone,” says Allison Baroco, MD, with Augusta Health Infectious Disease. “Exceptions are those with a severe chicken egg allergy, a severe reaction to the vaccine in the past or a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome related to a previous influenza vaccination. It’s also important to know that the flu vaccine doesn’t cause the flu.”

In addition to the flu shot, other ways you can help prevent catching or spreading the flu include:

  • Washing your hands often
  • Using a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze
  • Staying home from work or school if you have the flu