Be Ready This Flu Season

It’s that time again—time to get your flu shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive a yearly flu vaccine. Research shows that vaccination may lower flu-related hospital visits by about 70 percent.

Don’t put it off. If you get your shot right away, you’ll be protected when flu season hits. Even if you had a shot last year, you need another one to fight the most current flu strains.

Practice Prevention

While getting the flu shot is your best move, follow these tips to avoid passing the flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away.

• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after washing your hands.

• Try to stay away from sick people.

• See your doctor quickly if you get the flu. Antiviral drugs can help lessen the symptoms, shorten the duration and prevent serious complications of the flu. These medications work best when started within two days of getting sick.

Stay Home if You’re Sick

If you end up catching the flu, follow this advice:

• Stay home and rest until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medications).

• Drink lots of fluids.

• Take over-the-counter medications to help relieve fever, aches, pains, and congestion.

If you get very sick and self-treatment is not working, are pregnant, or have a medical condition that puts you at high risk for complications of the flu (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart disease), call your doctor. You should also contact your doctor immediately you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

• Purple/blue discoloration of the lips

• Pain/pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Seizures

• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Always consult your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional before changing your daily activity, diet, or adding a supplement. Talk to your Rite Aid Pharmacist for other tips on how to manage during flu season.
See if your local Rite Aid offers flu shots.

Sources

“Community Immunity (“Herd Immunity”).” Vaccines.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.vaccines.gov/basics/protection/index.html.

“How Well Do Vaccines Work?” Vaccines.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.vaccines.gov/basics/effectiveness/index.html.

“Prevention.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.flu.gov/prevention-vaccination/prevention/index.html.

“Symptoms.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.flu.gov/symptoms-treatment/symptoms/index.html.

“Vaccinations for Adults.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4030.pdf.

“CDC Says “Take 3” Actions To Fight The Flu.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm

“The Flu: Caring for Someone Sick at Home” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/homecare/index.htm“Flu” US National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000080.htm

“Seasonal Influenza (Flu).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm