Summer is officially over and the weather is getting cooler. I expect the leaves here in Pittsburgh to start turning fall colors any time now. I love the fall season on the east coast. It has to be my favorite time of year! Today I got my flu shot at the hospital. I don’t know why some people are so squeamish about getting the flu shot. It really doesn’t hurt that much. My arm is a bit sore but that’s nothing compared to the soreness after a good workout. Despite popular belief that flu shots cause the flu or autism, none of the scientific evidence supports this. Here are the people who should get flu shots:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- a. Health care workers
b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
You can get more detailed information at the CDC website. www.cdc.gov/FLU/protect/keyfacts.htm
Don’t forget teachers! Last year was the first year I didn’t get sick or lose my voice in 10 years.
By: institutrice on October 11, 2008
at 9:26 pm
I got my Flu shot for the FIRST time ever last week… which is funny because I now have a job where there is no patient contact whatsoever.
By: Mary on October 27, 2008
at 1:20 am
I get the flu shot every year, but I’m still not convinced that it works very well. The theory behind it is so… well hit or miss. I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry.
By: Paulie on October 27, 2008
at 4:23 pm