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WINTER WELLNESS
The flu shot is the most
powerful tool to help
protect your family from
the flu.
SAFEGUARD BEYOND
THE FLU
The flu vaccine may help decrease the
likelihood of developing other life-
threatening conditions.
“Because fighting the flu puts stress
on the body, getting the flu shot
decreases risk for heart attack and
stroke,” says Jeffrey L. Stephens, MD,
infectious-disease physician with
Navicent Health. “Heart attacks and
stroke occur less frequently in people
who receive their annual flu shots.”
IT’S THAT TIME of year when the flu spreads through schools, “My kids liked the idea of the nasal spray, but it did not work
homes and workplaces. Are you ready to protect yourself and your well,” Dr. Stephens says. “It may be back as a safe option in the
children? future, but not this year.”
“The virus spreads so easily that everyone 6 months or older Side effects from the flu shot are minor. They may include
should get vaccinated every year,” says Jeffrey L. Stephens, MD, soreness in the arm, headache or low-grade fever.
infectious-disease physician with Navicent Health. “In a given year,
as much as 20 percent of the population will get the flu.” If you or your children experience side effects after the shot,
don’t worry. This does not mean you have the flu. You cannot get
WHY THE SHOT IS YOUR BEST BET the flu from the vaccine.
In the past few years, a pain-free version of the flu vaccine was “Make sure your family gets vaccinated every season,”
available. This was a nasal spray — known as the live attenuated says Nancy Osborn, RN, CIC, Manager of Infection
influenza vaccine — that became very popular. Unfortunately, the Prevention and Epidemiology with Medical Center, Navicent
spray wasn’t as effective as the flu shot. Health. “You get the most protection if you get the flu shot
before flu season starts, but the vaccine is still effective if
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you get it later in the year.”
children and teenagers 2 to 17 years old get flu shots, not the nasal
spray vaccine, this year. Last year, the spray effectively protected DO YOU NEED A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN?
only 3 percent of kids in that age group, whereas flu shots VISIT WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG AND CHOOSE
protected an estimated 63 percent. THE “FIND A DOCTOR” LINK.
WINTER 2016 | navicenthealth.org 11
