Get flu vaccine now 

SARASOTA, FL – With the arrival of cooler weather, the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) reminds people to get your annual flu vaccine. The flu is more than a “just a cold” for many people. The seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses. It spreads from person to person. It can result in a serious illness that means lost work time or severe symptoms that require hospitalizations. In some cases, it can lead to death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that the flu kills about 24,000 Americans each year.

Flu season generally begins in the fall and winter. In Florida, the season is at its worst in the first months of the new year. Since the flu vaccine takes about two weeks to provide protection, it is a good idea to get it now especially if you are exposed to many people in close settings.

When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes near you, you are exposed to the virus. Touching surfaces or items with the virus on them and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose can also spread the flu. Washing your hands often with soap and water plus a flu vaccine each year is your best protection. Covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough prevents the spread of the virus when you are sick. Coughing or sneezing into your elbow keeps the virus away from your hands.

The flu vaccine is recommended for anyone older than six months of age. It is especially important for adults older than 65, children younger than two, people with chronic diseases and pregnant women. There is a high-dose version of the flu vaccine just for seniors, a no-needle, and a nasal-mist version for younger people who are healthy.

Don’t let the flu spoil your new year or cause you to miss work. For more information about flu and where to get a flu vaccine, visit www.sarasotahealth.org or Find a Flu Shot Locator: http://www.flu.gov/. You can also call the DOH-Sarasota Flu Info Line: 941-861-2800.

DOH-Sarasota is part of a statewide network of county health departments that work to protect, promote and improve the health of residents and visitors through integrated state, county and community efforts.

 MEDIA NOTES:
DOH-Sarasota Media Contact: Dianne Shipley, 941-861-2852; cell 941-302-1058;
DOHSarasotaNews@FLHealth.gov
Website: www.sarasotahealth.org