Even though we have come into the first days of the spring
season, there is no reason to not get a flu shot if you haven’t yet. In fact,
there is good news about this year’s flu vaccine, which Health Briefs TV
relays.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a
statement last week stating this year’s flu vaccine is the most effective one
in years. The Center states that people who received the vaccine were 59
percent less likely to get sick with influenza than people who didn’t.
Basically, getting the flu vaccine this year reduced the risk of a doctor visit
because of the fly by nearly 60 percent.
Deaths from the flu number between 4,000 and 50,000 a year
in the US .
Even though the CDC (and most family physicians) strongly recommends getting a
flu shot, about half of the US
population does. The flu affects older people and the very young the most. This
year’s formula is effective for the H1N1 viruses (51%), and the influenza B
viruses are reduced by 76 percent with this year’s vaccine. Health Briefs TV
recommends getting the flu shot, and more so if you work in a crowded office
where space is shared. Take preventative steps on your own to reduce the chance
of getting the flu:
- Wipe desk and equipment on desk with a sanitizing wipe before use every day, especially if items are shared.
- Use a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol dabbed on it to clean the phone. The smell from the alcohol evaporates quickly.
- Stay home if sick.
There are 170 million doses of the fly vaccine with options
ranging from the traditional shot, nasal spray and the high-dose version for
older folks.
