Every fall and winter, respiratory illnesses — especially the flu — circulate and cause millions of Americans to become sick. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We have many tools available to prevent seasonal illnesses. While none are perfect, using them together gives us the best chance at staying healthy.
The most effective tool we have is vaccination. Vaccines expose your immune system to a dead or weakened virus so it can practice fighting it off and build up antibodies. This reduces your chances of getting sick later on, but more importantly it means you’re much less likely to be hospitalized or die from a preventable illness. Last flu season, more than 700,000 Americans were hospitalized with the flu and 45,000 died from it.
Influenza vaccines are recommended for ages 6 months and older. Enhanced options are recommended for adults 65 and older. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
Getting your annual flu vaccine by Halloween generally keeps you protected for the entire flu season. A new flu vaccine is needed every year because your body’s immune protection fades over time, and the virus is constantly changing as it moves through the population, a process called antigenic drift. Researchers look at the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season in order to predict which form of the virus will be most common here in the U.S. and make vaccines that reflect that.
Getting a flu vaccine is just as much about protecting your community as it is about protecting yourself. Infants, the elderly, cancer patients and anyone who is has a weakened immune system are especially at risk of becoming severely sick. They may not be eligible to receive the vaccine at all, or their body’s ability to build up antibodies from it may be less than your average American. That’s why they rely on the people around them at the grocery store, doctors’ office, school or workplace to do their part in preventing the spread of illness during flu season.
Other habits that will protect you and those around you are frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, covering coughs and sneezes with an elbow or tissue and staying home when you do feel ill.
The Dallas County Health Department offers immunizations through the Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults programs. Schedule an appointment online for one of the Dallas County Health Department’s vaccine clinics or call 515-993-3750.
Natalie Del Vecchio is the community health educator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.