Iowa’s National Influenza Vaccination Week
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) have announced that last week was Influenza Vaccination Week. The event was designed to highlight the importance of receiving an annual flu vaccination. While Iowa has had no confirmed cases of influenza yet this season, several of our neighboring states have, so it is anticipated that flu will be in Iowa soon.
Annual vaccination is the most effective way of preventing influenza and its complications. There are additional things you can do to protect yourself and your family:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your upper sleeve. If you use a tissue, throw it away after one use.
- Avoid being exposed to people who are sick with flu-like symptoms.
- Stay home from work or school when you are sick.
- Eat nutritious meals, get plenty of rest and don’t smoke.
The most common symptoms of influenza are fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. Vomiting, diarrhea or a stomach ache alone are not symptoms of influenza. Most people recover from influenza within a week, but the virus can cause complications such as pneumonia in the very young, the elderly, or those with chronic diseases, and causes approximately 1000 deaths in Iowa annually. If you have not gotten your flu shot yet this year, IDPH urges you not to wait any longer.
Anyone who may have missed the earlier Flu Clinics held by Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care the last few months may still get the vaccination. Flu shots are available with appointment each Wednesday afternoon during the weekly immunization clinic in the Community and Home Care Department located at their location, 12 E. Main Street, downtown, Waukon. These immunization clinics are held each Wednesday afternoon. Anyone interested is asked to call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Office at (563) 568-5660 to schedule a time.
