Right at Home of Central New Jersey
Reminds You to Get Your Flu Shot!
The right people, doing the right things,
the right way, for the right reasons.
Right at Home.
Did you get your flu shot yet?
Doctors recommend that almost everyone should get an annual flu shot, beginning around October. Of course, it's easy to procrastinate.
Never fear! If you haven't had the flu yet this year, count yourself lucky and go get your shot. December is typically the beginning of peak flu season so getting vaccinated now can spare you from a miserable week and even life-threatening complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that each year more than 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized due to flu complications and thousands of deaths each year are flu-related. People with asthma, diabetes, heart disease and a number of other chronic health conditions are more vulnerable to complications. And people older than 65, even if they are healthy, are at higher risk.
If you're tempted to skip your flu shot, remember that by lowering your own risk of the flu you're lowering the risk for others. Our immune systems weaken as we grow older and the effectiveness of the flu vaccine varies from year to year so a senior who is vaccinated might nonetheless come down with the flu if exposed to someone who has it. And while the flu vaccination is the most valuable health tool you can use to prevent getting the flu, there are also other things you can do in your every day life to stay healthy. Click on this CDC link to see what they recommend.
The flu vaccine is available as a shot or as a nasal spray. The CDC does NOT recommend the nasal spray vaccine for people older than 49. Seniors also may receive a new higher-dose version of the flu shot , which has been found to be almost 25 percent more effective for older adults. The CDC cautions people of every age with chronic illnesses to consult with their healthcare provider about the form of the vaccine that is safest and most effective for their condition.
Getting a flu shot is simple and these days it is almost painless. The flu shot is offered at doctors' offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies and senior centers. Most health insurance plans, including Medicare, cover the cost of the flu shot but please check with your own health plan for details of coverage.
Don't be tempted to skip your shot because you were vaccinated last year. Flu viruses are constantly changing, and so is the annual flu vaccine. One year's shot most likely won't protect you against the next year's strains.
So take the time to get your flu shot and help older loved ones be immunized as well. You can go together, or if your loved one is helped by one of our great Right at Home of Central New Jersey caregivers, they can transport you or your loved one to the doctor's office or pharmacy.
Visit Flu.gov to learn more about this year's flu vaccine recommendations, how to avoid catching or spreading the flu, where to find a flu shot and what you should do if you or an elderly loved one does catch the flu.
(The information in this article is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. If you have questions about the flu, flu vaccine or what to do if you get the flu, talk to your doctor.)
About Right at Home of Central New Jersey – Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. The Right at Home of Central New Jersey office is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex and Northern Monmouth Counties.
For more information, contact Right at Home of Central New Jersey at:
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