Time to Get Your Flu Shot

It’s time to get your flu shot.
Health care providers are encouraging you to be immunized because it can make a big difference by helping you and others avoid becoming sick.
“As of yesterday afternoon (Wednesday), we have had 15 positive Type B and zero Type A cases of flu since the beginning of school. We have also had 19 positive strep and 10 positive mono tests,” Michiko Martin, Office Manager of the Family Medical Center told WJLE. “We have plenty of flu vaccine available at the Family Medical Center and the Alexandria Family Medical Center – quadrivalent, high dose (for the over 65 population), pediatric (6-35 months), and FluMist,” she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Tennessee Department of Health recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone over the age of six months. It’s especially important for pregnant women to be vaccinated in order to protect their unborn children. One major challenge for health officials is combatting rumors and myths about flu immunizations. It is important to note: It is not possible for the flu shot to give you the flu.
You can choose from the nasal mist and the traditional flu shot. Check with your healthcare provider to see which option is best for you or your child.
After your flu vaccination, it’s still important to practice good health habits to protect yourself from the flu and other winter viruses, and to prevent spreading them to others if you do get sick. Good health habits include frequent hand washing with soapy water or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and covering coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue. People who are sick should stay home if at all possible to recover to prevent spreading illness to coworkers, friends and others.
Flu vaccines are widely available across Tennessee from a number of sources and take only a few minutes to receive. Contact your health care provider about flu vaccine locations near you, or visit the Vaccine Finder available at http://flushot.healthmap.org/.