Getting Ready for Flu Season

Moms came to TheMotherhood today to talk about a very timely, seasonal topic – the importance of getting your flu shot.  Heather Bryant, a Doctor of Pharmacy and Walgreens pharmacy manager in Chicago, provided great advice and information, and five lucky moms won Walgreens flu shot gift cards to get immunized this flu season.  Read on for ways to protect yourself and your family from the flu!

– Who Should Be Immunized: Unless they are allergic to eggs, anyone over the age of six months is eligible for a flu shot.  It’s especially important for anyone with a chronic medical issue (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, asthma, etc.) to be immunized against the flu. It’s estimated that between 15 and 60 million cases of the flu occur yearly in the U.S., leading to about 24,000 deaths.

– Vaccinating Kids: Keep in mind that if you have a little one who has never received the vaccination before, they will get the dose over two separate visits, a few weeks apart. The mist is only available if children are over two years old. Walgreens Take Care Clinics are able to vaccinate children over the age of two years.

– Flu Shot v. Flu Mist: Both the shot and “mist” (nasal spray) are effective forms of immunization. Some people prefer the nasal spray in order to avoid needles. The shot is an inactive form of the flu strains, and the mist contains live flu viruses. People with compromised immune systems should not get the mist form of the flu vaccine. It takes about 2 weeks to develop immunity after being vaccinated.

– This Year’s Flu Shot: It’s not too late to be vaccinated.  This year’s flu shot protects you for the whole year, not just the season, and most of the flu shots are a combined dose of the standard flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine. There are no additional side effects compared to previous years’ shots.

– Dealing with Flu Shot Soreness: It is common to experience some tenderness at the injection site, along with some arm/muscle soreness, but use your arm instead of treating it gingerly just because you received a shot. The more you use the muscle, the less likely it is to hurt for more than a day or so.

– How We Get the Flu: The flu can be spread through the air from up to six feet away, or picked up on surfaces.

– Use Disinfectant on Surfaces: Depending on the surface, germs can remain “living” on surfaces for 48 hours or more. Think about all the “dirty” surfaces we touch on a daily basis – keyboards, doorknobs, telephones. Wipe those items down with alcohol to prevent spreading germs.

– The Myth of Vitamin C: Studies do not really support the use of high dose vitamin C for preventing or shortening the duration of a cold/flu. It is more important to rest and stay hydrated.

In addition to the accumulated wisdom of the Talk, here are some additional suggestions for flu prevention from our expert mom bloggers’ reader communities:

– Get Some Shut-eye: Experts recommend sleeping for 7-8 hours each night for a reason – regularly getting enough sleep at night keeps your immune system healthy and functioning properly.

– Avoid Cabin Fever: When it starts getting cold outside, people tend to spend more time indoors in close quarters, where germs can spread quickly.  Take opportunities to leave the house, school, office and other enclosed spaces whenever possible.

– Dust Off the Treadmill: Aerobic exercise helps to increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells.  Hibernating during the winter doesn’t mean you can’t be active!

– Stay Clean: Wash your hands frequently, try not to touch your face unless you know your hands are clean, and carry hand sanitizer for on-the-go.

– Take a Deep Breath: Excessive stress can suppress your immune system.  Find a way to calm down, whether it’s reading a book, enjoying a hot bath, yoga or deep breathing.

– Practice Safe Sneezing: Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, but don’t use your hands, which will spread the bacteria to other surfaces when you touch them.  Instead, carry a packet of face tissues, or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.

– A Pound of Cure: Getting a flu shot will minimize your chances of getting sick, but stock up on chicken soup and medicine in case you do.  The last thing you want to do when you have the flu is get out of bed and go to the store.

A special thanks to Walgreens, Heather and all of our mom experts!!  The awesome mom bloggers who co-hosted this Talk are:

Angie, My Four Monkeys

Caryn Bailey, Rockin Mama

Christina, Mommy Story

Connie Roberts, Brain Foggles

Elizabeth, Busy Mom

Ellen Christian, Confessions of an Overworked Mom

Jodi Grundig, Multitasking Mommy

Shannon, The Mommy Files

Stefany, To Be Thode

Suzanne Chan, Mom Confessionals

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62090