Fall Season Brings Flu and Pneumonia Vaccination Reminder

It seems as though the summer has flown by, but believe it or not, it’s already time to start gearing up for the flu and pneumonia season. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is a serious illness that can affect anyone. 

Nationwide studies show that the flu, and related complications like pneumonia kill several thousand each year, and that only 64 percent of persons over age 65 receive a flu shot each year.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an annual flu shot for:

·         Everyone 6 months of age or older

·         Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions

·         Anyone who has a long-term health problem such as:

-heart disease                        -kidney disease

-lung disease                         -metabolic disease, such as diabetes

-asthma                                 -anemia, and other blood disorders

The influenza viruses change often, so the influenza vaccine is updated each year. Protection from the flu develops in about two weeks after getting the shot and may last up to a year.

However, the most common misconception is that people can get the flu from the vaccine itself. This is not true.  Actually, viruses in the vaccine have been killed, so people cannot get the flu from the vaccine.

September is the best month to receive the flu vaccination, as that’s when the flu season begins, and the vaccination lasts throughout the season – which usually ends in March.

The pneumococcal vaccine helps to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia which is a serious infection of the lungs. The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended to be taken every five years. Traditional Medicare insurance will cover the cost of the yearly influenza vaccine and a pneumococcal vaccine every five years.