Influenza is a serious disease and people of all ages can get it.  The flu causes an average of 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States.  Symptoms include fever, headache, extreme fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.  Influenza can lead to pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions.  People at highest risk are those over 50, children aged 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, and people any age with chronic medical conditions, long term care facility residents, house hold contacts of high risk persons, and healthcare workers.

Individuals infected with the flu will be contagious 1 – 2 days before symptoms and up to 5 days after symptoms begin.  They are very contagious and most likely will infect co-workers, family, friends, neighbors, and others in close contact.  Healthcare providers will likely infect the very patients they are attempting to help.

Prevention of contracting influenza can be as simple as receiving a relatively harmless vaccine. The flu vaccine should be taken every year because the flu viruses that are causing the influenza change each year.  The side effects that could occur are soreness where the shot was given, fever, and aches.  Since the flu vaccine is made from a “dead” virus, it is not possible to get the flu from taking the vaccine.

Veterans may receive a free flu shot during their scheduled appointment or upon admission.  If you do not have a scheduled appointment, but would like to receive a flu vaccine, you may walk into any of our primary care clinic locations and ask for a flu shot.