November Cover Story: Fighting the flu
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Deb Psanis, RN, Clinical Director of Backus Home Health Care, said the clinics they sponsor for the public started in October and will go through Nov. 7, including clinics at two polling places in Norwich on Nov. 4 at the American Legion and Stanton School. The vaccine is plentiful this year, so healthcare providers are encouraging people to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated.
People also can check with their employer to see if the vaccine will be offered at work. "We focus on adults and patients with chronic illnesses," Ms. Psanis said. "Many of our clinics are held at senior centers because the elderly are more susceptible to the flu."
Healthcare providers and those who come in regular contact with the elderly or the chronically ill also should be vaccinated to protect those around them and reduce the spread of the disease, said Robin Heard, RN, Clinical Coordinator of the Epidemiology Department at Backus.
"We are appealing to our healthcare workers to do the right thing and get vaccinated," Ms. Heard said. "And, as usual, we are urging the public to do the same.
Setu Vora, MD, a member of the Backus Medical Staff who specializes in pulmonary diseases, said although it doesn't make headlines, the flu is a public health threat, which can be prevented through vaccinations.
Each year in the United States on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu, more than 200,000 are hospitalized from the flu and complications and 36,000 people die from the flu.
This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended recommendations for all children 6 months to 19 years old be vaccinated. "Children have a high exposure rate, because they are in groups," Dr. Vora said. "This is a community immunity concept. If we can limit the spread of flu in populations that usually carry it, we can protect the whole community better."
Parents should contact their pediatrician to find out more about the flu vaccine or the availability of the nasal-spray flu vaccine for healthy young adults.
It can take up to two weeks to develop immunity after the vaccine, so it is important to get vaccinated early in the season to provide immunity throughout, rather than waiting. Flu season can last from October through March.
Backus Home Health Care Flu clinics
November 3
- 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- Bozrah Senior Center
- Route 163, Bozrah
November 4
- 8:30-10 a.m.
- Chase Manor Apartments
- Norman Road, Norwich
- 1-3 p.m.
- Vote and Vaccination at American Legion
- 456 Laurel Hill Ave., Norwich
- 5-7 p.m.
- Vote and Vaccination at Stanton School
- 386 New London Turnpike, Norwich
November 6
- 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- Lisbon Senior Center
- 11 Newent Road, Lisbon
November 7
- 10-11 a.m.
- Village Court Apartments
- Mechanic Street, Norwich
Who should get Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday.
- Pregnant women.
- People 50 years of age and older.
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.
- People who live in nursing homes and other longterm care facilities.
People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers.
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu.
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).
It should be noted that vaccination with the nasalspray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention