Flu Season - It's Time To Get Vaccinated Again
Did you know during the 2009-2010 flu season, there were "41,914 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations and 2,125 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths" in the United States? Many of those deaths are considered "preventable."
According to the 2010 CDC guidelines, all people in the United States over the age of 6 months of age should be vaccinated with this year's flu vaccine. The CDC's recommendations are certainly more far-reaching this year than in previous years.
Although the CDC recommends virtually everyone be vaccinated, the Center also has a list of "high-risk" individuals who should make vaccination a priority. This list includes at least two groups of people who are likely cared for in nursing homes or assisted living facilities: (1) people 50 years of age or older; and (2) people of any age who have chronic medical conditions. In fact, the CDC specifically recommends "people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities" make vaccination a priority.
If you or a loved one is in a nursing home or assisted living facility, make sure you check with your medical doctor to determine whether the flu vaccine is right for you. According to the CDC "the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year." Don't be a statistic.
