At ABC Pediatrics, we want you to be prepared for this flu season. There are multiple things that you can do to help PREVENT getting the flu.
One MAJOR choice you can make to help prevent you getting the flu is to get the flu vaccine. Each year, the flu vaccine is formulated with strains of flu virus that experts believe to be the infecting strains for the year. By receiving the flu vaccine, a weakened form of the strains is being introduced to your body in hopes that your body will build up a defense against those strains so that when a you come into contact with the full strength strain during flu season, your body will already have antibodies made to go to work fighting the infection right away, thereby preventing you from getting sick from the flu.
It is about this time each year that we start scheduling our patients to get the flu vaccine. Unfortunately, there has been a slight delay in shipping of all forms of flu vaccines from the flu manufactures. We have been advised that our flu vaccine shipments should be arriving in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, we want to get your child “on the list” to get the vaccine as soon as it comes in. Please call our office at 910.892.1333 and speak to Bridget. Once your child’s name is “on the list”, you can avoid having to call in repeatedly to the office to check on the vaccine status because we will contact you to confirm an appointment date and time once the vaccine arrives.
* Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol
* Use disinfectant sprays and wipes on table tops, door knobs and toys.
* Eat well and drink plenty of fluids
* Get at least 8 -10 hours of sleep each night
Encourage your family members and friends to follow these suggestions too! If we all work together to help prevent the spread of the flu virus, we can get through this flu season with minimal impact on our lives.
Don’t forget, call Bridget at 910.892.1333 and get “on the list”. ABC Pediatrics will not only offer the usual injectable flu shot, but we will also offer the flu vaccine as a spray for your nose. When you call, tell Bridget which form of the flu vaccine you would prefer.
