News

Sep 25, 2018

Summit County Public Health (SCPH) reminds Summit County residents that the 2018 Flu season starts in early October.  It takes about two weeks after the vaccination for the body to develop the antibodies to provide protection from the flu. Immunity present can vary by individuals; however studies suggest that the immunity for a flu vaccination will typically last the duration of a full flu season for most people. The typical flu season begins in early October and runs through the spring, with spikes in December and February.

 So the time is now to get your flu vaccination. 

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccination every year to protect themselves. The flu vaccine is strongly recommended for those who are pregnant, the elderly, young children and those who have chronic health conditions. 

Flu vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent the flu. Flu vaccinations are currently available at most healthcare providers’ offices and SCPH by appointment as well as most local retail pharmacies.

Symptoms of influenza can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Although most people fully recover from the flu, some experience severe illness like pneumonia and respiratory failure, and the flu can be fatal. Anyone who becomes ill with the flu and is pregnant, has an underlying medical condition, is older than 65 years old or younger than 2 years old, or experiences a particularly severe form of the illness should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

Ways to avoid getting or spreading the flu include washing hands frequently; covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, or coughing or sneezing into elbows; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and staying home when sick and until fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.  For more information on influenza, please visit www.flu.ohio.gov or www.scphoh.org.