It’s Flu Season! Here’s What You Should Know.

Guest Blog by MPH Student, Gloria Gibrael

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Common misconceptions by the general population about the flu shot:

“The flu shot won’t help me at this point” - FALSE

  • Getting the flu shot will still make illness milder if you do catch the flu, reduce time away from work/school, and prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

  •  Getting the flu shot will also help protect the people around you

“The flu shot will make me sick” - FALSE 

  • The vaccine itself cannot make you sick

  • You can still catch the flu, but getting the flu shot will make the illness milder and have a shorter duration

How to know if you have the flu (common symptoms to look for):

  • *Fever

  • Cough

  • Sore throat

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Feeling feverish/chills

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headaches

  • Fatigue (tiredness)

*Not everyone with the flu will have a fever

What to do if you have the flu:

  • Stay home (at least 24 hours after fever is gone)

  • Avoid contact with other people (except to get medical care)

  • Wash your hands often to avoid spreading the flu

  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue

  • More at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm

Culmore Clinic Flu Information:

  • Giving the quadrivalent (4 strain) flu vaccine

  • No charge for the flu shot

  • Providers can assess and write prescriptions for antiviral medication to fight the flu

Link to most recent news about this flu season from the CDC (contains an audio file and raw, unedited transcript): https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/t0112-widespread-flu-activity.html

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