Avoid the flu: Get vaccinated

  • Published
  • By Maj. Gwendolyn Johnson
  • 355th Medical Group
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related health problems. Our elderly, children, and chronically ill are at the greatest risk from the flu virus, but we are all vulnerable. 

Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep the flu bug from ruining your day. However, if you become ill, you can manage at home without a visit to your doctor. Doctors recommend bed rest, lots of fluids, and over-the-counter medications to help relieve symptoms such as fever, headaches, extreme tiredness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscles aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you need bed rest, talk to your supervisor about resting at home for a day. If your symptoms persist or worsen, and you need more time away from work or a quarters authorization for active duty, make an appointment with your doctor.

Seven simple steps to minimize cold and flu's impact on you this season:
1) Get vaccinated ... Although there is no cure for the common cold, getting the flu shot is one of the top weapons to fight against getting sick.
2) Avoid close contact with people who are sick with the flu. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick also.
3) Wash your hands ... Most cold and flu viruses are spread by hand to mouth, and not through the air. To avoid catching the flu, don't touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after shaking the hand of a friend or taking change from a cashier. Always wash your hands before eating and after using the restroom. Frequent hand washing, especially after coming in contact with other people, will kill their germs that cause cold and flu. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers to clean your hands.
4) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing! It may prevent the flu virus from spreading to others.
5) Clean your surfaces ... Viruses that cause colds can survive up to three hours on objects such as table, chairs, and telephones. Cleaning your work surfaces with disinfectant may help stop infections.
6) Practice good health habits! A healthy immune system is a good defense against the common cold and the flu. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. If you suffer from a chronic illness, make sure to follow the health plan your medical provider has given you.
7) Don't Smoke ... Statistics show that heavy smokers get more severe colds and more frequent ones.

Flu shot line:
The 355th Medical Group will hold a flu vaccination line at the Enlisted Club in late November or early December. Military personnel, non-active duty individuals with retired military ID cards, military dependents with dependent ID cards, GS employees, and contract personnel working at Davis-Monthan are eligible to participate in this line. Children less than 12 years old must get their flu vaccine at the clinic and parents must bring their child's shot record and photo ID.

The flu mist is a nasal-spray vaccine recommended by the CDC for individuals ages five to 49 years old. People who are at high risk for complications from the flu; who are pregnant; who have a weakened immune system from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, sickle-cell disease, lung disease, asthma, cancer, kidney problems; or who are taking long-term steroid medications or medications that suppress the immune system should not receive the flu mist.

For information about specific dates, times, and locations of the flu line, call the Flu Hotline at (520) 228-2899, and for all others questions regarding the flu vaccine, call the Immunizations Clinic at (520) 228-1536. Staff members will be happy to assist you.