Protect yourself against the flu
It’s flu season. Your best protection against the flu is to get the influenza vaccine every year. Find a location near you. Don’t like shots? Get the flu mist instead.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older should get a flu vaccine. The vaccine is especially important for:
- Young children
- Adults ages 50 and older
- People with chronic health problems or an impaired immune system
- Pregnant women
In addition to vaccinations, other precautions to avoid catching influenza include:
- Clean surfaces you touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Get plenty of rest, physical activity and eat healthy to help stay healthy.
If you get influenza
Stay home from school or work. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
