coworker sneezing, friend is turned off by germs

Influenza season is already here, with confirmed cases in Northern Virginia and the DC metro area.

Schedule your flu shot now as soon as possible. Cost at our practice is just $30 for monthly members, and $45 for non-members. The type we purchased is approved for all ages, starting at 6 months old. CVS is charging $50 for comparison. Let your doctor know immediately if you want a flu shot, so we can reserve yours from our available supply.

As a reminder, here’s some background on the flu:

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection. (not “stomach flu”!) It spreads in the humidity of one’s breath (airborne spread). Infected people are contagious up to 24 hours before they even feel ill, which is why it spreads so quickly.

Symptoms vary from moderate to severe, with the most common symptoms being the sudden onset of sneezing, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, fever, body aches, and headache. Tragically, thousands of people die every year from “the flu.” It can be particularly harsh on infants, elderly, and those with any respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD.

While the annual flu shot is not perfect, it is the best available protection to prime your immune system to fight the virus. Infants cannot receive the vaccine until 6 months of age, so it is important for all of their family members and caretakers to be immunized.

It is physically impossible to catch influenza from the vaccine, so don’t worry about that. But you may feel symptoms of your immune system being activated—mild aches, low grade temperature elevation. That means you are responding appropriately to the immunization.

If you have an egg allergy, talk to your doctor. The CDC recommends that people with an egg allergy still get the vaccine, but under specific conditions.