Flu season is officially upon us and getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself from coming down with the most common strains of the disease.
Each year, influenza viruses are spread through coughing, sneezing, and close contact. The sickness can strike suddenly and last for several days. Symptoms vary by age but typically include a runny or stuffy nose, head and muscle aches, fatigue, fever or chills, a sore throat and coughing.
Public Health Nurse Lisa Letsinger says that the Marshall County Department of Health offers a few programs that can assist individuals, young and old, this flu season.
“Here at the health department, we have flu vaccine available for children if they’re covered under Medicaid or non-insured.” She explained, “We also have a program that’s called our Adult 317 Program and if adults have no insurance at all they can come here and get flu vaccine.”
She added that while the Center for Disease Control assess which strains will be most prevalent in a given year, the quadrivalent vaccines only protect against four of the most common strains.
She also wanted to make sure that people know that the vaccines are inactivated, meaning that there is no live virus in the shots and they cannot cause the flu. She mentioned that once vaccinated, there is approximately a two week period where your body is building up immunity to the influenza, so if you were exposed to a flu virus before you were vaccinated or within that window of time, there is a chance you could exhibit symptoms.
For more information contact the Marshall County Department of Health at 574-935-8565.
