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In general, individuals at high risk for complications from the flu should get vaccinated. This includes children from six months to age five and adults age 50 and over, as well as pregnant woman, people with chronic medical conditions, and people who live in any long-term care facilities. Additionally, individuals who live with or care for those at a high risk for complications from the flu or who care for infants and young children should consider the flu vaccine.
The best time to get vaccinated is October or November, but if you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, it is not too late. Flu season often lasts through May. To find a flu shot provider near you, visit: www.flushotsvirginia.org or call your primary care doctor.
Aside from getting vaccinated, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following tips to prevent getting sick this season:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Clean your hands often and regularly sanitize high-traffic areas
• Practice good health habits like getting enough sleep, exercising and eating right
Another area of concern is the potential for a pandemic flu outbreak. Different than the traditional flu virus, a pandemic flu occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, for which there is no vaccine, and which has the potential to spread very quickly through large populations and around the global. Although it is difficult to predict when or if a pandemic flu outbreak will occur as well as how severe the effects would be, federal and state governments around the United States are taking steps now to prepare for any potential outbreak.
The United States has been working with the World Health Organization and other countries to develop systems to better detect an outbreak of the flu which might cause a pandemic, as well as work with the private sector in the United States to develop ways employers can protect their employees. To date, the planning includes things like modeling how a disease could spread, preparing and training community health centers and hospitals, and working with state and local governments, as well as other activities. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also been providing funds to state governments to help each state prepare. Virginia has received almost $9.5 million for pandemic panning activities from the federal government and on March 3, 2006 Governor Tim Kaine and HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt signed a resolution that details Virginia’s planning responsibilities. To learn more about the pandemic flu and what the federal government and states are doing to prepare, visit: www.pandemicflu.gov. For more on what Virginia is doing, visit: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/pandemicflu/.
Additionally, according to the CDC, families can prepare for a potential pandemic flu outbreak by storing a two-week supply of water and food, ensuring an adequate supply of prescription and nonprescription medicine, and taking steps to prevent the spread of germs, much like you would to prevent the traditional flu. You can also consider volunteering with local groups to assist in emergency response planning and talking with your employer to make sure your workplace has thought about a pandemic flu plan.
I hope that this holiday season and winter will be a safe and healthy one for you and your family. By learning about and preparing for a potential pandemic flu, we can all help minimize the effects of a widespread outbreak. By getting a flu vaccine and practicing the prevention tips, you can decrease your chance of spending days in bed fighting the traditional flu. And, as I tell my staff, if you are sick, please get rest, drink fluids, and most importantly – keep your germs to yourself!
Congressman J. Randy Forbes represents Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District, including the Tri-Cities region. He lives in Chesapeake.
