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CDC Encourages Flu Shots

Sedona AZ (January 19, 2013) – This year’s flu season is off to a fast start. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting it is seeing many more cases of flu earlier this year than it has in the past 10 years. The best protection against the flu is to get vaccinated and the good news is it’s not too late, since the flu season typically extends into March. What’s more is that the flu shot is readily available, easy to get and inexpensive – often free.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. According to CDC, it can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Certain people have a greater risk for flu-complications; they include older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions and people who live in facilities like nursing homes. Those suffering from the flu often have a fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue.

“Flu shots are intended to protect against the flu viruses that experts predict will be the most common during the upcoming season,” says Dr. Andrew Plummer, a military doctor. “Each year, three different viruses are typically used to make the seasonal flu vaccine. Some people believe that the vaccine itself can cause the flu, but a flu shot contains pieces of killed flu virus that can’t infect the body.”

flu sick doctor cdc childThe Centers for Disease Control advised that the flu season arrived earlier this year than past years. The Chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in CDC’s Influenza Division, Dr. Jose Bresee, has urged everyone who has not received a vaccination to do so.

The flu vaccine is administered by injection or a nasal spray. The nasal spray is made with live, weakened flu viruses. Most insurers cover both the flu shot and flu mist. Beneficiaries can get their flu vaccine at no cost from military treatment facilities or from a pharmacist at one of the 45,000 network pharmacies administering vaccines to TRICARE beneficiaries.

The good news is that this year’s vaccine appears to be a good match for the flu viruses that are circulating across the country. To learn more on flu basics, treatment and prevention visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

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