Its a fact: People will be hospitalized because of the flu this year and many
49000 based on annual estimates will die. But taking action now might help prevent that from happening in your community.
Getting a flu shot not only helps you avoid the flu it also protects people around you who are more likely to get sick and possibly have complications or even die. Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians urge everyone over 6 months of age to get vaccinated now to have protection throughout flu season.
When we get vaccinated we help ourselves and we provide protection to people who are more apt to catch an illness and become sicker because of it said Bruno Granwehr MD a consultant to TMAs Committee on Infectious Diseases. In the case of flu your shot helps you protect your children grandchildren your elderly parents or grandparents your pregnant co-worker or a cancer patient.
Influenza or the flu is a severe illness much worse than a cold that spreads easily and can keep people sick for seven to 10 days. Most who get the flu will have mild symptoms such as a cough and fever. For others flu can lead to pneumonia or bronchitis and potentially a hospital visit. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the following groups are most likely to suffer severe complications:
- Children under the age of 5 years but especially those under 2 years;
- Adults 65 years of age and older;
- Pregnant women (and women up to two weeks after giving birth);
- Residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes; and
- People with chronic health conditions such as diabetes asthma or heart disease.
When we look at this list most of us know someone who fits into one of those categories said Dr. Granwehr an infectious disease physician from Houston. Cancer patients are another vulnerable group because their bodies have a tougher time fighting off illness during cancer treatment. Your flu shot could protect them and anyone most vulnerable to flu. Your shot could help a loved one.
Nearly 70 percent of hospitalizations from flu-related illness are in
people who are over age 65. And most (up to 85 percent) flu-related deaths are among the elderly. Yet people 65 years and older had one of the biggest drops in flu vaccination during the last flu season (2015-16) according to the CDC down 3.3 percentage points.
Children also can be hit hard with flu-related illness. According to the CDC more than 20000 U.S.
children younger than 5 years of age end up in the hospital each year because of flu complications. And because babies under 6 months of age cant get vaccinated they rely on the people around them including their caretakers to get vaccinated. Protecting people around us is called community immunity explained Dr. Granwehr.
The vulnerability of newborn babies is another argument for pregnant women to get the flu shot. The vaccine protects mom AND her unborn baby. The baby remains protected by the mothers immunity until about 6 months of age. Plus flu usually is more severe for pregnant women and can lead to complications including early labor and delivery.
This year the CDC recommends flu shots for everyone. In addition to the standard flu shot this years options include a high-dose shot for people 65 years and older and an intradermal vaccine that uses a smaller needle injected into the skin instead of muscle. (The nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended this year because of concerns about its effectiveness though it was offered in the past.) Physicians suggest people talk with a doctor to choose the best vaccine.
The CDC recommends getting a flu shot in October for protection throughout the entire flu season which can last from now through May. It takes about two weeks for the body to build protection to fight the flu.
TMA has produced a
flu fact sheet and a
flu facts infographic in English and Spanish.
To find out where flu shots are available and other flu information visit the Texas Department of State Health Services
website or visit
www.flu.gov.
TMA actively works to improve vaccination rates in Texas through its Be Wise ImmunizeSM program made possible through a grant from the TMA Foundation. Be Wise works with local communities to give free and low-cost shots to Texans and educate people about the importance of vaccination. More than 300000 shots have been given to Texas children adolescents and adults through the Be Wise program since 2004.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation representing more than 49000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the state. TMAs key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans. TMA Foundation raises funds to support the public health and science priority initiatives of TMA and the Family of Medicine.
