Seniors

Anyone over 65 years of age and those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and kidney disease are at a higher risk for health complications from influenza. Influenza-related complications may require a stay in the hospital or can even cause death.

Influenza causes headaches, muscle aches, a sore throat and a dry cough. Most people contracting influenza are sick in bed for 2-7 days; is may lead to pneumonia (nu-mo-nyah), a hospital stay or even death.

In the elderly, the flu shot prevents complications such as pneumonia in about 6 out of 10 people and can prevent death in more than 8 out of 10.

Children and the Flu

Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs. For most children and youth, the flu shot is not dangerous. Children under 6 months of age should not get a flu shot.

People at risk of getting severely ill include babies and young children, the elderly, or anyone with medical conditions like asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, or heart problems. Influenza can be fatal for the elderly; children can easily pass influenza to grandparents. It can cause pneumonia and other complications that can require hospitalization.

Influenza spreads very easily from person to person. School children are in such close contact with each other that they spread the flu bugs to their classmates and then bring the influenza bugs home, infecting family members. Infected children can spread the influenza virus for much longer than adults (for up to 2 weeks).

People at risk of getting severely ill from influenza or its complications, and people in close contact with those at risk, should get the flu shot. The best time to get a flu shot is late October or November, and flu shot clinics are available at schools throughout Huron County.

The flu shot has been show to reduce severe ear infections by up to 36% in young children.

Children under nine years of age may require two shots. Those children receiving the flu shot for the first time will require 2 doses this year. Since the flu virus changes constantly, a new vaccine is made each year. Get a flu shot every year.