54 THE QUEENS COURIER • NOVEMBER 2, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Flu facts: Top 5 things you need to
know about the fl u shot this year
You hear about it on the news. You see
the signs in the pharmacy windows. Even
your friends and co-workers are talking
about it. Th e fl u shot is a highly discussed
topic, and for good reason!
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), on average,
5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population
- or up to 64.6 million people - gets the fl u,
and tens of thousands of people are hospitalized
every year because of it. Further,
the fl u can strike anyone, and adults aged
18-64 years old are the most likely to get
ill, accounting for 60 percent of fl u-related
hospitalizations. Th is number goes up
in certain areas, and some states - such as
Texas, Florida and California - tend to be
hit harder by the fl u than others.
“Flu-related illnesses are already trending
twice as high in 2017 as they were in
2016, and we are seeing an uptick in fl u-related
visits across the country,” said Dr.
Jason Tibbels, MD, board-certifi ed family
physician and director for quality programs
at Teladoc, the largest and most
trusted telehealth provider in the world.
“Th is year, offi cials want at least 70 percent
of Americans to get a fl u shot; however,
fewer than 50 percent were vaccinated
against the fl u last season.”
How can you protect yourself and your
loved ones from the annual fl u outbreak?
Th e fi rst step is to understand the benefi
ts and any potential risks of fl u vaccination
and then - if it’s right for you - go get
the fl u shot.
It’s also important to understand that
while the vaccine is the best defense in protecting
against fl u, there’s still a chance
that with it, you could get sick. If you
do start to experience symptoms, telehealth
is an on-demand, anytime, anywhere
resource. Th is means you can access
hassle-free medical care from your home
during the middle of the night, from your
college dorm room, while at the airport for
an early morning business trip, and anywhere
else you have access to a phone, a
mobile app or the web. A telemedicine
doctor can assess your symptoms before
they worsen. Visit Teladoc.com/fl u to learn
more about the telehealth benefi ts that may
be available to you to access care when and
where you need it.
We asked Teladoc’s Dr. Tibbels why the
fl u shot is so important this year. Here are
his top reasons:
1) It keeps you out of the emergency
room. Th e fl u shot reduces the risk of hospitalization
due to fl u by approximately 50
to 60 percent.
2) It reduces sick days. Missed time
at work due to fl u-related illnesses causes
an additional $16.3 billion in lost earnings
annually.
3) It promotes overall health. Th e fl u vaccine
is a helpful tool for people with chronic
health conditions. Flu vaccination is
associated with lower rates of some cardiac
events among people with heart disease,
and is also proven to have reduced hospitalizations
among people with diabetes
and chronic lung disease. Further, vaccination
helps protect women during and aft er
pregnancy, reducing the risk of fl u-associated
acute respiratory infection by about 50
percent. And getting vaccinated also protects
the baby several months aft er birth.
4) If you do get sick, it may decrease the
severity. Th e fl u vaccination does not guarantee
protection against the virus; people
who get the shot are still at risk of getting
sick. However, if you do get sick, the
fl u vaccination can make your illness milder.
If you start to experience symptoms -
whether or not you’ve had the fl u vaccine
- it’s important to see a doctor. Many people
have 24-hour access to board-certifi ed
and licensed physicians seven days a week
via telemedicine from home, work or on
the road through a phone or tablet, making
it easier than ever to get a diagnosis and
start treatment.
5) It helps stop fl u from spreading. Did
you know that the fl u virus can be spread
to people within three feet of a sick patient
when that patient coughs, sneezes or talks?
Getting vaccinated doesn’t just help protect
you from the fl u; the fl u shot is the responsible
choice for protecting those around
you. Vaccination is especially important
for protecting more vulnerable populations,
such as babies and young children,
the elderly, and people with certain chronic
health conditions, like cardiovascular disease
and diabetes.
“When it comes to the fl u, it’s not wise
to take a wait-and-see approach,” said Dr.
Tibbels. “Talk to a doctor! We’re available
all day, every day, all through fl u season
and beyond.”
To learn more about Teladoc and the
level of fl u risk where you live, visit
Teladoc.com/fl u.
Courtesy BPT
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