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The aches, pains, chills and fever that you feel when you are infected with the flu are not a joke, but being vaccinated against the flu can help.
Doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want you to know that the pain, chills and fever you feel when you're infected with the flu is not a joke.
At a press conference this week, Daniel Jernigan, MD, director of the CDC's influenza division, warned everyone that this year's flu cycle could be as deadly as the last.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Last #season of the flu has been one of the worst in recent years, with very high rates of outpatient visits and hospitalization rates due to influenza-related illness. https://t.co/rxqR75FHpd #FightFlu pic.twitter.com/ExzydbretC"data-reactid =" 25 "> Last #season of the flu has been one of the worst in recent years, with very high rates of outpatient visits and hospitalization rates due to influenza-related illness. https://t.co/rxqR75FHpd #FightFlu pic.twitter.com/ExzydbretC
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "- CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) September 27, 2018"data-reactid =" 26 "> – CDC Influenza (@CDCFlu) September 27, 2018
According to Jernigan and the CDC, last year's flu epidemic killed 80,000 people. He put 900,000 more people in the hospital. And that number is staggering when you consider that the average flu season kills between 12,000 and 56,000 people.
However, there is one way to prevent the spread of influenza: getting vaccinated. (And no, you can not catch the influenza flu shot.)
"Those 80,000 people who died of influenza last year? Guess what? They received it from someone. Someone gave them the flu, "said Surgeon General Jerome Adams during the press conference.
Of those who died, 180 were children.
"The majority of them were not vaccinated," said Dr. Adams at NBC. "These are healthy kids who are dying of the flu."
To help get the message across, Dr. Adams did get a flu shot during the conference.
"I get vaccinated, so hang in there with me because I could cry," said Dr. Adams laughing. But he had another message for all those who do not get vaccinated. And that is to say that if you get sick, stay away from other people so as not to infect others.
"If you're sick, stay home," said Dr. Adams. "Employers, tell your employees if they're sick, stay home."
And while the flu vaccine can not protect you against all strains of the virus, it can still save your life in the long run.
"Even if you have the flu after receiving the vaccine … you will probably benefit from a less serious illness," added William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, at the conference. "As a doctor, I really like that my patients do not have pneumonia or are not admitted to the hospital. Nobody wants to be what I call the dreaded grower. "
In terms of who should receive the vaccine, the CDC recommends it for all children over six months of age, older adults, pregnant women, and those whose immune system is weakened by the disease. Here's everything you need to know about why and when to get a flu shot.
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