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Health

Take Time to Get a Flu Vaccine

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.  While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.

The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic.  Everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the 2011-2012 vaccines are available. 

Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.  People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.  Vaccination is also important for health care workers and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to them. 

Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated.  People who care for them should be vaccinated.

Len Carota, Health Services Chairman
healthservices@vakofc.org
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