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Prevent the flu and stay healthy all year long

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this flu season is not expected to be more severe than other recent seasons when demand for the vaccine was so low that providers had to discard vaccine at the end of the season,” according to the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ daily influenza vaccine update released Oct. 21. That is good news for most of us in Fayette County who will, it seems, not have access to flu shots this year.

Millions of individuals in the U.S. contract the flu in some form each year. And yes, there are deaths associated with flu season each year, generally among the elderly and the very young. Influenza-related illnesses and deaths are not a new occurrence, but the constant bombardment of the citizenry with information and sound bites has magnified flu season to epic proportions. We are seeing new and emerging (and in some cases re-emerging) infectious diseases more frequently, and we hear or read about them daily. It is no wonder that people are very much concerned about the shortage of flu vaccine.

But there are other ways besides the “flu shot” to say healthy during flu season. We now have the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine, or FluMist. This vaccine is administered by literally spraying it (thus the “Mist” in the name) into the nose. Though this is a live virus version of the vaccine, it is a weakened virus that is very sensitive to temperature (i.e. it dies outside the upper respiratory tract). FluMist is designed to cause your immune system to respond to protect you from the flu without actually causing a case of the flu. So if you are between the ages of 5 and 49 years, are in good health, and are not a care-giver for severely immunocompromised patients in special care units: check with your physician or local pharmacy to see if FluMist is available, and to ensure that you meet the criteria for receiving it.

There are other non-pharmaceutical ways to help prevent influenza. You can still protect yourself and others from the spread of germs if you:

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick when possible. If you are sick, keep your distance from others.

• Stay at home when you are sick if at all possible. Do not send children to school if they are sick, particularly if they have a fever, are vomiting, or have diarrhea.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.

• Wash your hands often and instruct your children to do the same. It will help protect you from germs.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs on your hands find easy entry into the body from these areas.

Other healthy lifestyle habits, such as getting plenty of sleep, engaging in physical activity, managing stress, drinking water, and eating healthy foods will help you to stay healthy in the winter and all year long.

Should you happen to contract the flu: all is not lost. There are antiviral medications which, if given soon after the onset of flu symptoms, will lessen those symptoms and shorten the course or length of the infection. Call on your family physician for assistance.

If there is any change in the current shortage situation, the Health Department will alert the public through ads in The Citizen and the Fayette Daily News; by placing posters in the window and on the door at our clinic, and by posting information on the public access channel, Comcast Cable Channel 23. We will also update our phone message with any changes.

— Cynthia D. Grant, RN, BSN, MGA

County Nurse Manager

Fayette County Health Dept.