Are you and your kids flu-immunized?
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
This week is National Influenza Vaccine Week. As a reminder, this year the CDC recommends that all children 6months to 18 years get an annual flu shot. And, all adults should get their flu shot, too. Keep in mind that the only way to not get the flu is to have some protection on board. The flu will also be markedly less severe with the flu shot on board. I talked about these issues as well as ways to combat the flu should it strike this morning on Fox 25 Boston. Click here to see the video.
By the way, I do practice what I preach. The Dr. Gwenn family is now all flu-immunized…we made the trek the day after Thanksgiving. Both my girls and I went to the doctor’s office knowing we were going to get our flu shots but Dad was not so sure. His last memory of the flu shot was not so pleasant as that year he did come down with the flu. It was a bit of an uphill battle to convince him that it wasn’t the flu shot that caused his illness and that his illness would have likely been worse without that flu shot on board. What changed his mind? A few facts tossed out to him by our kids who read the pamphlet handed to them by the nurse before they received their flu shots:
- While the elderly and very young are most at risk from the flu, healthy people can get the flu and get very, very sick, too.
- 36,000 Americans die of complications of the flu each year and over 200,000 are hospitalized.
- Getting the flu shot protects those you love, especially if they have a weakened immune system (having had recent major surgery, I now fall into this category for the upcoming flu season…and our kids picked right up on this tidbit in the brochure).
My daughter’s were very adept at building a case with these statements and well timed emotional arguments such as “you could die if you get the flu”, “what if you give the flu to Mommy.” And, my favorite, “everyone else’s daddy got their flu shot.” In the end, he caved.
Celebrate National Influenza Immunization Week this week with my family and make sure your family is flu-immunized by the time the holidays arrive in two weeks. Or, at least by the time 2009 arrives! If we can get my husband to get his flu shot this year, you can get everyone in your family flu-immunized. All it takes is tough love and pulling a few emotional heart strings.
For more information:
Survival Tips for the Flu Season
Families Fighting Flu
Flu Clinic Locator
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