Flu season is upon us. Here's what you can do to avoid catching (and spreading) it
Worried about the upcoming flu season? Here are some ways you can stay healthy in the coming months.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released recommendations on the best ways to avoid getting the flu once the season starts this month. During last year's flu season, 80,000 Americans died, including 180 children — 80 percent of whom were not vaccinated — according to the CDC.
Getting the shot early
Make sure to get your flu shot by the end of October if you want to be fully prepared for the upcoming season. The flu season can range from October to May, with peak activity between December and February, said Dr. David Cennimo, an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics, infectious disease, at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
A nasal mist is available, although needles are preferred
FluMist, which can be given to people ages 2 to 49, contains a live virus and is effective if administered properly, said Tanaya Bhowmick, a doctor at Rutgers' Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Injection by needle is still the preferred method of delivery for the vaccine, however.
Stay away from others if you do end up catching the flu
It’s important to stay home 24 hours after your fever breaks without medical intervention, Cennimo said. Covering your nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing, washing your hands after using a tissue and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth are all important ways to ensure that the disease does not spread further, he said.
Getting the flu shot protects others, too
Sometimes, people can contract the flu but not show any symptoms, Bhowmick said. These individuals can then unknowingly put vulnerable populations at risk, including the elderly, children, cancer patients going through chemotherapy and those with HIV.
You might still get the flu, but it won’t be as bad
Variants of the H3N2 Influenza A strain and Influenza B strain are included in this year’s flu shots to better match the strains in circulation this year, Cennimo said. While it’s possible that you may contract another strain, symptoms such as fever and aches won’t be as severe.
Last year, the vaccine strain match was "a good match, but not great," Cennimo said. The flu vaccine was 40 percent effective against both Influenza A and B during the 2017–18 flu, he said.