Seasonal Flu and Vaccine
Every year in the U.S., about 200,000 people are hospitalized due to influenza. About 36,000 of these people will die. That's almost half the population of Carver County. Many of these deaths are preventable. Getting a flu shot each year not only protects you from becoming a statistic, it also protects your family and friends.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get influenza (flu) vaccine. CDC encourages people to get vaccinated throughout the flu season, which can begin as early as October 2011 and last as late as May 2012.
The 2011-2012 flu vaccine protects against three main influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during this season, which are influenza A (H1N1) virus, another influenza A (H3N2) virus and an influenza B virus. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body and protect you from the flu. Depending on your age and/or physical conditions, influenza vaccine can be received by injection (shot) or by nasal spray.
For more information on influenza and the influenza vaccine, visit the Minnesota Department of Health Influenza website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza website, or download the brochure Take 3 Steps to Fight the Flu (.pdf).
Many insurance companies will pay for flu shots. Check with your provider to see if this is available. To find a flu clinic near you, visit the Minnesota Department of Health's Flu Shot Clinic finder.
