Take precautions this flu season

The American Press

Many people already have taken the most significant step to fend off the dreaded flu by getting this season’s vaccination. Others have not, meaning they are more susceptible to the disease.

The peak flu activity could hit soon.

That means if you haven’t gotten a flu vaccination yet, now is the time.

Health officials nationwide last year said the flu season killed more than 79,000 people, including many children, the deadliest outbreak since the 2009 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

A flu vaccine can possibly have prevented that.

The flu vaccine is offered at virtually all health care providers and many area pharmacies so it is easily accessible.

The CDC also suggest that an annual flu vaccination may also stimulate the immune system’s “memory” in fighting the infection each season.

Besides getting the vaccine, the CDC recommends prevention measures like staying home when you’re sick, avoiding close contact with sick people, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, washing your hands and taking anti-viral medicines if your doctor prescribes them.

No defense is 100 percent, but doing what you can, including getting a flu shot, will go a long way to keeping you and your family healthy.

A vaccination and other preventive steps give people a better likelihood of warding off the flu and having a healthier winter.

That sounds far more appealing than suffering with the flu and facing potentially serious health consequences.””

In this Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 file photo, Ana Martinez, a medical assistant at the Sea Mar Community Health Center, gives a patient a flu shot in Seattle. The 2018 U.S. flu season got off to an early start, and was driven by a nasty type of flu that tend to put more people in the hospital and cause more deaths than other common flu bugs.

Ted S. Warren

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