National Influenza Vaccination Week held from Dec. 4-8

As winter approaches, it is important to be aware of influenza season. Flu viruses typically spread between fall and winter. Annually, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention host a National Influenza Vaccination Week, which is held from Dec. 4 through Dec. 8.

The CDC hosts this awareness week to remind everyone who is six months and older that there is still time to get a flu vaccine. Flu vaccines provide protection against the serious flu disease that can cause hospitalization and even death.

The flu is an extremely contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and, sometimes, the lungs, which can cause mild to severe illness.

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by small droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby.

According to the CDC, children are most likely to get sick from the flu, and people 65 and older are least likely to get sick from flu. The percentages for specific age groups who have obtained the flu are 9.3 percent for children zero to 17 years old, 8.8 percent for adults 18 to 64 years old, and 3.9 percent for adults 65 years and older. This means that children younger than 18 are more than twice as likely to develop a symptomatic flu virus infection than adults 65 and older.

The flu can come with a plethora of symptoms which include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills.
• Cough.
• Sore throat.
• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Muscle or body aches.
• Headaches.
• Fatigue (tiredness).
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

When it comes time to get the yearly flu shot, most healthcare insurance plans will cover the annual flu shot as preventive care. The vaccine is often available at no, or low cost, to people who do not have insurance.

Ways to obtain the flu vaccination at little to no cost:

Children

• If your child is insured, most health care insurance plans cover flu vaccination at no cost to you. Check that your provider takes your child’s insurance.
• Flu vaccine is also available at no cost to you through CDC’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. A child must qualify for this program.

Adults

• If you have insurance, your flu vaccine will be at no cost to you. Check that your provider takes your insurance.
• If the insurance does not cover flu vaccine or it has a fixed dollar limit or cap for vaccines, there may be options for no cost, or low-cost flu vaccination.
• If you don’t have insurance, there may be options for no cost or low-cost flu vaccination.

There are many different individuals and places that are available to give the flu vaccine, including a healthcare provider, a local pharmacy, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) supported health centers, an employer, schools, and community organizations.

For more information on the flu vaccination, visit cdc.gov.