Should Elder Care Patients And Caregivers Get The Flu Shot?
Who should get the flu vaccine? According to the Center for Disease Control, everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine each year. It's especially important that people who are at high risk get the flu vaccine, especially if flu related complications may result with the flu.
The CDC voted for a "universal" flu vaccine in the U.S. in order to protect more people from the flu. The typical "flu season" begins when the whether is colder, and runs from October-May.
The flu virus is transmitted through the air but it can survive on surfaces, too. It can spread from person to person when someone who has the flu leave the virus on a surface, like a pen at the doctor's office, then the next person next person touches that object, then touches their nose, or mouth. Children and older adults are considered to be at higher risk to contract the flu.
Categories of high risk include:
- Women who are pregnant
- Young children (especially children younger than two)
- People over 50
- People with certain chronic medical conditions
- People in longterm care facilities
- People in nursing homes
- Healthcare workers
- Any contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Caregivers for children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
- Caregivers for elderly
- Caregivers for immune suppressed due to medication or illness
Common symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever (100ºF or greater)
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Chills
- Extreme tiredness
- Cough
- Runny nose (more common in children than adults)
If you have one or more of these symptoms, check with your health care provider. It could be the flu.
prn is a home health care provider located in the Pittsburgh metro area, specializing in elder health, home health care, in-home health services and long term care.