The excitement of returning to school, going to local football games, and other fall activities will soon be followed by flu season, and health officials are encouraging people to schedule their flu vaccines now to protect themselves, their children, elderly relatives, and their communities.
Nationally, some 17 million workdays are missed due to flu. During last year’s Wisconsin flu season, 3,483 people were hospitalized and 604 were admitted to the intensive care unit due to flu-related complications. In the previous flu season, 7,526 people were hospitalized with the flu, the highest year on record.
Getting the flu vaccine helps reduce your chances of getting sick from the flu and shortens the amount of time someone is sick. Other ways to help avoid the flu include washing your hands, coughing or sneezing into a sleeve or tissue, and staying home if you do have the flu so you don’t spread germs to others.
