• Children's Immunizations
• Adult Immunizations
• Flu Shot Clinics
• Pneumonia Immunizations
• Shingles Immunizations
• Travel Immunizations

Description

Influenza (Flu) is a highly infectious virus illness

Symptoms

Fever and chills, dry cough, runny nose, body aches, headache, sore throat (Note: Adults rarely have upset stomachs or diarrhea from influenza. The “stomach flu” is not influenza.)

Complications

Worsening of existing health problems, like heart disease or asthma; pneumonia; ear and sinus infections

Transmission

Spread mainly through coughs and sneezes of infected persons. But, may also be spread by touching an object contaminated with influenza and then touching the mouth or nose.

Vaccine

Influenza vaccine will help prevent this disease. (Note: The vaccine is not perfect for preventing all flu symptoms, especially for elderly people. However, it is excellent in preventing severe flu, hospitalization, and death. If you do get the flu, it will be a much milder case.)

As an adult, do I need it?

The influenza vaccine helps prevent this disease in all adults and vaccination is especially recommended if:

• You are 50 years old or older.

• You are living in a long-term care facility for the chronically ill, no matter what your age.

• You have heart disease, lung disease (including asthma), metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), anemia or other blood disorders, neurologic disease compromising respiratory function, or kidney diseases.

• Your immune system is weakened because of HIV/AIDS or other diseases that affect the immune system, treatment with drugs such as long-term steroids, cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs, or bone marrow or organ transplants.

• You are a doctor, nurse, visiting home nurse, other healthcare provider, volunteer worker, family member, or someone else who comes in close contact with a person at risk of serious flu.

• You will be pregnant during the flu season.

• You live with or care for children younger than 5 years of age especially children less than 6 months of age who are too young to get the flu vaccine, but who are at very high risk of complications from influenza.

• You live with or care for persons 65 years of age or older.

• You live with or care for persons of any age with one or more chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, cancer, or diabetes.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Information Statement:

Influenza Fact Sheet English (pdf)

Influenza Fact Sheet Spanish (pdf)