It’s flu season, and the bug has begun to circle.

Staff at Melissa Memorial Hospital said they haven’t seen any patients with major flu symptoms, but it is beginning to get on the minds of everyone.

Family Practice of Holyoke has held its annual flu clinics, and many people have taken the first step to safeguard themselves against the flu.

Claudia Powell, MMH director of nursing, said even though people receive a flu shot, there is always still a chance they could contract the flu­—it just won’t be as bad as if they had not received the shot.

This year’s flu shot is the same shot that was given last year. two years ago, the shot was completely different after the emergence of the H1N1 flu. The shot people are receiving this year covers H3N2, Influenza B and H1N1 viruses.

Kay Schmidt, LPN, gives a flu vaccination Thursday night, Oct. 27 at SunSet View Community Room. Family Practice of Holyoke held special flu clinics to offer flu shots at a discounted price.??—Enterprise photo

Powell and Pat Notter, RN, said shots are usually administered in October. this year, they said once the shots were received in September, they were told they could go ahead and begin to administer them.

“There’s no pandemic potential this year,” Powell noted.

Everyone, regardless of whether or not they received a shot, should safeguard themselves during flu season.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers its “Take 3” actions to fight the flu.

The first is to take time to get a flu vaccine. Secondly, take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs. these include:

—cover nose and mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing.

—wash hands often with soap and water. if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

—avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.

—try to avoid close contact with sick people. if sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

—while sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

The third action is to take flu antiviral drugs if a doctor prescribes them.

Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and are not available over the counter. The antiviral drugs help treat the symptoms of the illness.

Staying home is a big player in keeping others healthy. those who have been or still are sick, and return to work or school, can easily spread the illness.

“Our society just doesn’t know how to be sick anymore,” Notter said. “They just expect a quick answer and expect it to go away.”

With the holidays coming up, friends and families will gather in larger groups. With flu season in the midst, these times offer a greater chance for the spread of illness, according to Powell and Notter.

Staff at MMH reminds those who are sick or have symptoms, to not visit patients in the hospital. There are stands at entrances of the hospital with hand sanitizer, masks and gloves to help those visiting to stop the spread of illnesses.

Some patients will have signs on their door that state, “Please check with nurse before entering.” Powell said it would be a good idea to follow these instructions.

Signs and symptoms of the flu

Signs and symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.

Powell said not everyone with the flu will experience vomiting or diarrhea. these two symptoms may be signs of another illness.

People at high risk for developing flu-related complications include children younger than 5, adults 65 years of age and older and pregnant women. Anyone with asthma is also at high risk.

Emergency warning signs in children include fast breathing, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, unable to eat, trouble breathing, no tears when crying and significantly fewer wet diapers than normal.

In adults, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen are warning signs.

“People should never hesitate to call the clinic or hospital if they feel their symptoms are getting worse,” Powell said.

Test Your Flu I.Q.

#1: A flu vaccine can’t give you the flu. answer: True#2: The “stomach flu” and influenza are the same thing. answer: False#3: getting a flu vaccine in December or later is not too late. answer: True#4: Flu viruses change constantly which requires a new flu vaccine to be produced each year. answer: True#5: Washing your hands is the best thing you can do to protect against the flu. answer: False#6: The flu vaccine protects against three strains of flu. answer: True#7: The flu is typically spread through coughs and/or sneezes. answer: True#8: The flu is not a serious illness. answer: False#9: The flu vaccine is available as a shot or a nasal spray. answer: True#10: you can spread the flu to others before you have symptoms. answer: True

Holyoke Enterprise November 3, 2011

I got a flu shot for the 1st time about 10 days ago and since then I've been feeling sort of achy, with a little pain while swallowing. Nothing major, I still go to work each day, but I wondered if anyone else had these symptoms.

This is fairly common

it can happen. keep in mind that they are injecting a small amount of the virus into your system, although it is either dead (flu shot) or somehow paralyzed (flu nasal spray). and, as you said, symptoms are usually milder than the full-blown flu. don't worry, it is a common occurrence

no they can't actually cos it's a killed vaccine.

What you've probably done is caught a cold virus in the waiting room

Oh yes, but it is more mild. Nothing is lovely about the flu any which way you can say it but the flu shot helps not to get it in the worst way. We get the flu shots every year and sometimes it feels achy or ishy feeling but that's about it and it'll go away soon.

Not usually.

Mild flu like symptoms are really the side effects of your body's virus fighting strategies, so itis possible.

yea just like tylenol gives u headaches

No. you probably picked up another strain of flu, or a cold virus while you in the waiting room or Drs office. This is very common.

WINFIELD, Ill. (WBBM) – Flu season is at its peak, but it’s not too late to get the flu shot.

As WBBM Newsradio 780’s Lisa Fielding reports, if you have the flu now, you’re far from alone.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Lisa Fielding reports

“At least 30 to 40 percent of patients that are coming in have flulike symptoms,” said Dr. Darin Jordan of Central DuPage Hospital.

The flu season started slow, but in the past month, cases have increased significantly, Jordan said.

Other than a flu shot, Jordan says, the best way to protect yourself is through adequate hygiene.

“Washing your hands, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and really if you have displayed flu symptoms, you want to stay at home and not expose others to those potential viruses,” Jordan said.

Flu season runs through may.

i heard the flu vaccine can actually cause problems if you already have the flu, is that true?

No, do not get the flu shot. the flu shot exposes you to small amounts of infection so that your body learns to fight them with the appropriate immune response. If you already have the flu, it is too late. Buy tissues, tea, sudafed and tough it out.

Nationwide Medical/Surgical Announces Preservative Free Flu Vaccine Available

Los Angeles, CA (Vocus) March 11, 2009

Nationwide Medical/Surgical, a leading provider of the flu shot across the nation, has announced the availability of a preservative-free flu vaccine.

The influenza virus, more commonly known as the flu, is a virus that ranges in severity of symptoms from mild to fatal. It is transmitted very easily. the best defense from the flu virus is an influenza vaccination. the influenza vaccine is comprised of weakened or dead viruses that are introduced to the body to allow the body to build up a defense for the flu. when a person who has received the vaccine and has built up antibodies is introduced to the virus, the resulting symptoms from this exposure are typically nonexistent or very mild for the patient.

Flu vaccines come in several forms. there is a flu shot, which is injected to the person via syringe. there is also a flu mist vaccine that is inhaled nasally. most versions of the flu vaccine contain Thimerosal, preservative containing mercury, used to prevent contamination across multi-dose vials of the influenza vaccine. Multi-dose flu vaccine vials are vials that contain several doses of the flu shot. the vial is closed shut with a rubber stopper, in which a syringe is inserted to gather the vaccine for each dose. the introduction of each syringe brings with it the chance for contamination.

Many flu vaccine manufacturers are creating single dose vials that do not require Thimerosal to prevent contamination to fill the need for preservative free flu shots as there is no repeated drawing upon the vial. many people are opting for this version of the flu vaccine as there are fears that Thimerosal can cause autism.Currently, there is no conclusive proof that Thimerosal found within the flu vaccine causes any side effects other than a red sore spot at the injection site, however further studies are being done. As a result, many who are receiving the flu vaccine (especially young children and pregnant women) are interested in a preservative free flu vaccine version.

To find out more information about the preservative free flu vaccine or to view all of the influenza vaccine products that Nationwide Medical/Surgical has to offer, visit nationwidemedical.net

CONTACT:Dan Blatt, 14141 Covello Street, Suite 6C(800) 997-8846Van Nuys, CA 91405Website: nationwidemedical.net

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