You still have time to guard against the flu

You still have time to get vaccinated against the flu. UHS joins with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in urging people to get a flu shot if they haven’t done so already.

This is flu season, and healthcare professionals are seeing a concerning uptick in cases of influenza and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The single best way to reduce the risk of seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year.

Dec. 5 through 9 is designated as National Influenza Vaccination Week, an annual observance designed to raise the public’s awareness about the importance of getting a shot. In the Southern Tier, flu vaccine is available at UHS primary care and pediatric provider offices.

Call your primary care provider or your child’s pediatrician to make an appointment and visit nyuhs.org for information about the locations of UHS’ primary care and pediatric offices. Vaccine is also available at UHS pharmacies, including the UHS Specialty Pharmacy at UHS Binghamton General Hospital, 10-42 Mitchell Ave. in Binghamton. Learn more here.

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

These viruses spread year-round, and peak between December and February. They can be detected in most infected persons beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. People with flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after their illness begins.

This holiday season, spread cheer, not the flu.

With the arrival of the holiday season, many individuals spend more time with their children, other family members and friends. But sometimes good cheer isn’t the only thing that’s spread.

For example, every year millions of children nationwide get sick with flu and thousands are hospitalized as a result. Since flu viruses are constantly changing and protection from vaccination decreases over time, getting the shot every year is the best avenue to prevention. Flu vaccines are the only vaccines that protect against flu and are proven to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death.

A growing concern among healthcare experts is RSV, a common virus that affects the airway and lungs. Most people develop only mild, cold-like symptoms and get better in a few weeks. However, for some people it can cause serious illness. If you are concerned about RSV, talk with your provider right away.

Another step you can take to avoid getting sick is frequent and proper hand-washing.

Personal hygiene begins and ends with our hands. And although we’re taught as youngsters to wash our hands before dinner, it’s important to remember that germs don’t care what time of day it is. Clean hands prevent sickness.

It’s especially important to learn the basics of hand hygiene so that you can become a champion hand-washer! The first full week of December is designated each year as National Handwashing Awareness Week, a good time to remember that flu and other contagious illnesses can be spread by the hands.

If you are not feeling well, UHS Walk-In Centers are available to get checked out. Click here to learn more about locations, hours of operation and services.