The flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children, and the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season. Getting a flu vaccination is now much easier than most of the tasks parents pack into their busy days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccine.During last yearís flu season, there were three pediatric deaths from flu in Colorado and 1,027 people from 49 Colorado counties were hospitalized for flu-related illnesses.Now is a good time of year to get vaccinated, since influenza in the United States typically arrives in the late fall and peaks from late January to mid-March.An annual immunization boosts your immune system and is the first and most important step in protecting yourself against this serious disease.There are flu vaccine products available in different forms, including traditional vaccinations and nasal spray to assist health care providers in administering vaccines to everyone.Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Some people with the flu will not have a fever.Here are some tips to help stop the spread of germs at home, work and school:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water to help protect yourself from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
