Don't Forget To Get Your FLU SHOTS!

This week, several of us here in Mountaindale have been under the weather...my throat feels like someone took sandpaper to it this morning. All the rain and dampness is perfect weather to get a bad fall cold. Which makes one stop for a moment and think about our winter that will all too soon be upon us, and with winter comes FLU SEASON. So, seems like a perfect time to remind everyone to get your flu shots...I got mine the other day at Crystal Run.

Also, both Walmart and CVC Drug Stores are offering flu shots. You can also use the Influenza sites flu shot locator. The old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is so true when it comes to our annual flu season. Sound children, the elderly, and those with other health issues are most vulnerable.

Who is at risk...special thanks to Faces of Influenza website where the following was borrowed from...

• People 50 years of age and older
• Children 6 months-18 years of age
• Pregnant women
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, and others
• Residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes

Additionally, those who come into close contact with high-risk groups should get a flu shot, not only to help protect themselves against influenza, but also to help avoid spreading the disease to more vulnerable populations. They include:

• Household contacts and caregivers of anyone in a high-risk group, including contacts such as parents, siblings, grandparents, babysitters, and child-care providers
• Health-care personnel

Note: Children younger than 9 years of age may need 2 doses approximately 1 month apart, depending on their influenza vaccination history.