Influenza (flu) - Mississippi State Department of Health

lu and pneumonia are seasonal threats that can result in illness or hospitalization. Flu shots for everyone six months and older are available now from all county health departments

This year, flu shots are recommended for everyone six months of age and older, especially those at risk from influenza complications: young children, adults 50 and older, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses.

Prices: Flu shots for children six months through 18 years are $10. Adult flu shots are just $25. Specialized flu shots, designed to boost immunity for those 65 and over, are available for $50, covered by Medicare part B.
Protective hygiene: Remember to cover your cough, wash hands often and thoroughly, and stay home if you're sick to protect yourself and others. Find out more »
Pneumonia: Pneumonia is the deadliest complication from flu. Over 600 Mississippians a year die from flu and pneumonia. The pneumonia vaccine can reduce the severity of pneumonia and the chance of hospitalization or death. If you have not had a recent pneumonia vaccination, check with your doctor or county health department to get one.

Who should get a flu shot?Is it cold or flu?More questions & answers »

Protect Those at Risk

Children six months of age and older.

Children, especially those six months through four years old, are more vulnerable to flu and its complications. Vaccination for all children and adolescents through 18 years of age is recommneded to help protect them.

The flu shot is not approved for use in children less than 6 months old.

Adults 50 and older.

People over the age of 50 are the largest group in the nation struck by serious or life-threatening cases of influenza. Flu also puts seniors at much greater risk for pneumonia. Pneumonia is a significant risk to the life and health of older adults, and hospitalizes more seniors each year than influenza.

If you are over 50, take steps to get your flu and pneumonia shots this season. The pneumonia vaccination won't prevent pneumonia, but it can greatly reduce the severity and deadliness of pneumonia. Flu shots will be available from private providers and your local health department. Your health department clinic can also supply you with a pneumonia shot alone, or when you get your flu shot.

Women who will be pregnant during the flu season.

Pregnancy can change the immune system in the mother, and affect the heart and lungs. This raises the risk of medical complications in pregnant women who get the flu, and makes hospitalization more likely. Early vaccination is especially important for expectant mothers who already have existing medical problems.

The chronically ill, regardless of age.

If you are an adult suffering from a chronic illness such as diabetes, or a condition like HIV that weakens your immune system, a flu shot is especially important.

Chronic illness greatly increases the risk of getting the flu, having it longer, and suffering from more serious medical problems as a result of it. People with diabetes are almost three times more likely to die from flu complications.

Early prevention is essential. Influenza spreads from November to April — getting your flu shot before then gives you the best chance of staying healthy.

Fact Sheet on Diabetes and the Flu »

Other important groups

Residents of nursing homes or other older adults living in a group residence
Caregivers and household contacts of children less than six months old.
Anyone with a compromised immune system due to HIV disease or medications such as chemotherapy

Healthy adults and children who live with or care for young children (under 5 years old) or older adults (over 50 years old)
Healthy adults and children who live with or care for anyone with a medical condition that could put them at higher risk for flu complications

Prevent the Flu

Hand-washing helps prevent common infections

Clean your hands

Clean hands prevent the spread of flu virus. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly to stay healthy.

One of the most common ways to catch the flu is by touching the eyes or nose with contaminated hands. Handwashing prevents the spread of other communicable diseases as well: hepatitis A, meningitis, and infectious diarrhea among others.

Effective handwashing:

Wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap.
Rub your hands vigorously together and scrub thoroughly past your wrists.
Continue for 10-15 seconds — about the time it takes to read these instructions. Soap combined with scrubbing acts to remove germs.
Rinse well and dry your hands.
More about handwashing

It's in Your Hands: Handwashing basics for kids and materials for teachers

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

The flu virus easily enters the body when you touch a contaminated surface and transfer the virus to the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Stay home when you are sick

You are more likely to catch the flu if you are already sick with a cold or other illness. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick to keep yourself and others well.

If you are sick, continue to follow the handwashing guidelines above.

Cover your mouth and nose

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of any illness to others.

Wash your hands after using a tissue.

Avoid close contact

Flu spreads easily: avoid close contact with those who are ill. If you are sick, avoid contact with others to keep them well.

More information

For more information on getting your flu vaccination, contact the health department in your county.

Read more about the flu and vaccinations at the CDC web site.

Who should get a flu shot?

Everyone six months and older should get a flu shot. Flu shots are especially recommended for:

Adults 50 years and older
Children and adolescents aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
Children and adults with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or other health disorders
Anyone with a compromised immune system due to HIV disease or medications such as chemotherapy
Health-care workers involved in direct patient care
Adolescents and children over 6 months of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months, or adults over 50
Healthy adults and children who live with or care for anyone with a medical condition that could put them at higher risk for flu complications

Who should NOT get a flu shot?

A flu shot is not recommended if you:

Have a severe allergy to eggs
Have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past
Have had Guillain-Barre syndrome in the 6 weeks following a previous flu shot

Is it safe?

The influenza vaccine cannot cause the flu. Flu vaccine is made from killed influenza virus that cannot give you the flu. It does causes your immune system to build defenses against it.

Why do some doctors have flu vaccine while others do not?

Flu vaccine is supplied by several manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad. One of the largest manufacturers, Chiron, produces most of the vaccine for the U.S. public health system. Chiron is shipping much less vaccine than originally planned due to manufacturing delays, causing a nationwide shortage among its customers. Doctors and health providers who ordered from a different manufacturer have received their normal supplies.

How long does it take for a flu shot to start offering protection?

It takes about two weeks to build the antibodies needed to protect you from the influenza virus.

What about anti-viral drugs?

Anti-viral drugs can be used to prevent the flu, or to speed recovery from the flu. They are more expensive than flu vaccine, and are taken over a period of several days.
For more detailed information, read the CDC's information page on anti-viral drugs.

Can the flu cause other health complications?

The flu can cause bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. If you're in one of the groups at higher risk for pneumonia (people 65 and older, the very young, and people with special conditions such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, kidney failure, HIV and certain types of cancer), check with your doctor or health clinic about getting the PPV (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine) when you get your regular flu shot. PPV will provide extra protection against pneumonia and other complications from the flu.

How can I tell if I have the flu?

The flu's symptoms come on suddenly and can include a high fever and severe aches and pains. A cold, however, rarely causes a fever or severe aches and pains.

Symptoms	Cold	Flu
Fever	Usually none	High fever (102 - 104° F); lasts 3 to 4 days
Headache	Usually none	Headaches can be strong
General aches, pains	Very little	Often severe aches and pains
Fatigue, weakness	Mild	Fatigue for up to 3 weeks
Extreme exhaustion	Never	Exhaustion begins early and remains
Stuffy nose	Nose usually stuffy	Sometimes
Sneezing	Sneezing is common	Sometimes
Sore throat	Throat is usually sore	Sometimes
Chest discomfort, cough	Sometimes	Chest discomfort and coughing can be severe

Complications	Sinus congestion or earache	Bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life-threatening
Prevention	None	Annual vaccination or antiviral medicines; see your doctor
Treatment	Only temporary relief of symptoms	Antiviral medicines: see your doctor

What can I do if I get the flu?

If you develop the flu, it is advisable to get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. You can take medications to relieve the symptoms of flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever, without first speaking to your doctor.)

If your flu symptoms are unusually severe (for example, if you are having trouble breathing), you should consult your health-care provider right away.

If you are at special risk from complications of flu, you should consult your health-care provider when your flu symptoms begin. This includes people 65 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, or children. Your doctor may choose to use certain antiviral drugs to treat the flu.
The same medications that can be used to prevent flu infections can also help decrease the length of a flu episode by about one day. Contact your physician at the early onset of flu symptoms to see if you are an appropriate candidate to receive this treatment. For those in generally good health, plenty of bed rest and fluids can be highly beneficial to a speedy recovery.

Flu Facts

Influenza is a disease of the lungs only. Its main symptoms are fever, headache, extreme tiredness, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches, but usually not stomach nausea. "Stomach flu" is not related to influenza, and is not affected by the flu vaccine.
Not every runny nose is the flu. The flu has many symptoms that the common cold does. It's not likely that you have the flu unless the symptoms are more severe than the usual cold or runny nose.
This year's vaccine offers the best protection. The current year's vaccine is carefully matched to the currently active form of the influenza virus. The vaccine is effective for only a few months, so vaccinations from past years will not help protect you from illness this flu season.
You can be vaccinated against pneumococcal virus at the same time you get your flu vaccination. This extra shot can protect you for five years or more from serious respiratory diseases caused by varieties of pneumococcal virus. Check with your doctor or local health department to see if this vaccination is right for you.