HJAR Jan/Feb 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JAN / FEB 2020 37 Joseph W. Thompson, MD, MPH President and CEO Arkansas Center for Health Improvement strain, and in some years this has caused very severe epidemics. Another way flu viruses change is through antigenic drift, a more gradual process of mutation. Scientists try to predict what changes are likely to occur in currently circulating viruses, and they develop a new flu vaccine each year to fight the predicted viruses. The flu vaccine is safe. As with any medicine, there is a small risk of a side effect or reaction, but most are minor and go away in a few days. Every vaccine is thoroughly tested before it is administered, and once a vaccine is in use, it is constantly checked for safety and effectiveness by the CDC. You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. If you get the flu shortly after receiving a flu vaccination, bear inmind that it takes your body up to two weeks to create antibodies against the flu after receiving a shot. That is why it is best to get vaccinated early in the flu season. The vaccine is not 100 percent effective. Some people will get the flu even if they have the vaccine. But even if a person gets the flu despite having been vaccinated, the vaccine may reduce the severity of the infection. Conversely, some who do not have the vaccine will avoid getting the flu because of herd immunity—the resistance to the spread of a contagious disease that results if enough individuals within a population are vaccinated. OTHERWAYS TO PREVENT GETTING AND SPREADING THE FLU Most commonly, the flu spreads from person to person through droplets in the air. When a person coughs or sneezes, beads of moisture can travel up to six feet. You should always cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze (with your sleeve if no tissue is handy), and wash your hands afterward. It is also possible to get the flu from touching an object where contaminated droplets have landed, and then touching your face. Avirus can live on a hard surface for up to 48 hours, so frequently touched surfaces such as countertops should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Wash your hands often with soap and water or, if those are not available, an alcohol-based hand rub. Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you believe you may have the flu, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Follow your doctor’s instructions and take any prescribed medication. Stay home fromwork or school; the CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Keep your distance from others, and wash your hands frequently to prevent spreading the flu. If you are not sick but have to be around someone who is, avoid close contact. Remember, failing to protect yourself from the flu does not affect only you. You risk getting the flu and spreading it to your family, friends, coworkers, and others with whom you come in contact. They in turn may pass it on to others, and someone along the way may be at high risk for dangerous complications. If you have not received your flu shot for the season by the time you are reading this, it is not too late. Do it today. n I and many ACHI staff members got vaccinated at a flu clinic in October. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Center for Health Improvement/John Lyon