Monday Sep. 17, 2018
Five Reasons to Get Your Flu Shot
As we look forward to the joys of the fall season, we must also recognize that flu season is upon us. Last year's severe outbreak is a sober reminder of how serious influenza can be. Broward Health's emergency rooms and urgent care clinics treated an unusually high number of patients fighting the virus, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that last year's flu season was one of the deadliest on record for children.
Broward Health is committed to caring for our community and we are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. Here are five more reasons to get your flu shot:
1.) It Can Help Save Your Life: Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, more than 40,000 people will die from vaccine preventable influenza and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to flu complications. Flu shots are especially important for people who are at a high risk for serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) and people ages 65 and older.
2.) You Can’t Get the Flu From a Flu Shot: After receiving the shot, some people experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, muscle aches and pain at the injection site, but this is generally the body triggering an immune response to the vaccine -- which means the flu shot is working.
3.) The Flu is Constantly Changing: If you got your flu shot last year, it won’t provide adequate protection for this year’s flu season because the flu virus evolves quickly. New vaccines are introduced every year to help ensure that people are protected from the flu’s most recent strains.
4.) Do It For Others: If the majority of the public gets vaccinated against the flu, it helps reduce the entire community’s risk of infection. This is known as “community immunity.” We can all do our part in the fight against the flu and potentially save lives. It’s important to not only protect yourself, but also those around you.
5.) It’s Simple, Fast and Available: Flu season usually starts in October and peaks in December, so now is a perfect time to start making plans to get vaccinated. It’s available at doctors’ offices, drug stores and other locations, and is covered by most insurance plans as preventative treatment.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Broward Health is committed to caring for our community and we are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. Here are five more reasons to get your flu shot:
1.) It Can Help Save Your Life: Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, more than 40,000 people will die from vaccine preventable influenza and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to flu complications. Flu shots are especially important for people who are at a high risk for serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) and people ages 65 and older.
2.) You Can’t Get the Flu From a Flu Shot: After receiving the shot, some people experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, muscle aches and pain at the injection site, but this is generally the body triggering an immune response to the vaccine -- which means the flu shot is working.
3.) The Flu is Constantly Changing: If you got your flu shot last year, it won’t provide adequate protection for this year’s flu season because the flu virus evolves quickly. New vaccines are introduced every year to help ensure that people are protected from the flu’s most recent strains.
4.) Do It For Others: If the majority of the public gets vaccinated against the flu, it helps reduce the entire community’s risk of infection. This is known as “community immunity.” We can all do our part in the fight against the flu and potentially save lives. It’s important to not only protect yourself, but also those around you.
5.) It’s Simple, Fast and Available: Flu season usually starts in October and peaks in December, so now is a perfect time to start making plans to get vaccinated. It’s available at doctors’ offices, drug stores and other locations, and is covered by most insurance plans as preventative treatment.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Broward Health, providing service for more than 80 years, is a nationally recognized system in South Florida that offers world-class healthcare to all. The Broward Health system includes the statutory teaching hospital Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North, Broward Health Imperial Point, Broward Health Coral Springs, Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital, Broward Health Weston, Broward Health Community Health Services, Broward Health Physician Group, Broward Health Urgent Care, Broward Health International, and Broward Health Foundation. For more information, visit BrowardHealth.org.