Getting Ready for Flu Season in Milwaukee

Getting Ready for Flu Season In Milwaukee

Links to Local Clinics Schedules and Locations

Milwaukee Health Department

Aurora VNA

Wheaton Fransiscan Community - Wide Clinics Milwaukee and Waukesha

Wheaton Fransiscan Senior Specials

Aurora VNA at Milwaukee County Senior Centers

List of Other Local Health Departments

Facts About Flu

• The flu can be very dangerous for people 65 and older.
• The flu can be prevented.
• A flu shot is necessary each fall for people in high-risk groups.
• The flu shot is covered by Medicare.
• The flu shot is safe. It can't cause the flu.

·         The flu shot and the pneumococcal vaccine can be given at the same time.

Flu is usually is a mild disease in healthy children, young adults, and middle-aged people. However, flu can be life threatening in older adults and in people of any age who have chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart, lung, or kidney diseases

Preventing flu is hard because flu viruses change all the time. This year's flu virus usually is slightly different from last year's virus. Every year the flu shot is updated to include the most current flu virus strains. That's one reason why flu shots will protect you for only 1 year.

In the United States, flu season usually occurs from November until April. The best time to get your flu shot is between September and mid-November. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks after you get the shot to develop protection.

Can Flu Be Prevented?

A flu shot can greatly lower your chances of getting the flu. Much of the illness and death caused by flu can be prevented by a yearly flu shot.

The cost of the flu shot is covered by Medicare. Many private health insurance plans also pay for the flu shot. You can get a flu shot at your doctor's office. You also may be able to get a flu shot from your local health department or from other health care providers.

No vaccine gives complete protection, and the flu shot is no exception. In older people and those with certain chronic illnesses, the flu shot often is less effective in preventing flu than in reducing symptoms and the risk of serious illness and death. Studies have shown that the flu shot reduces hospitalization by about 70 % and death by about 85 % among older people who are not in nursing homes. Among nursing home residents, the flu shot reduces the risk of hospitalization by about 50%, the risk of pneumonia by about 60%, and the risk of death by 75 to 80%.

Who Should Get the Flu Shot?

According to the Federal Government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following people are at risk for serious illness from the flu and should get a flu shot every year:

• People 65 years of age and older
• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• Adults and children who have chronic heart or lung diseases
• Adults and children with diabetes, kidney disease, or severe forms of anemia
• Health care workers in contact with people in high-risk groups
• Caregivers or people who live with someone in a high-risk group

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