Newsroom > DHHS News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2007

CONTACT
Leah Bucco-White, Communications and Legislative Services, 402-471-9356 Leah.buccowhite@dhhs.ne.gov

Note: Sound bites on this topic are available at: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/audio/

Lincoln – Vibrant autumn leaves, shorter days and cooler temperatures tell us flu season is on its way. Each year 36,000 people die of flu and more than 200,000 are hospitalized because of complications.

Experts say getting a flu shot is still one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family.

"We haven’t seen any flu activity in the state yet but we know it’s just a matter of time," said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). "Flu vaccine really does keep people healthy and stops the spread of the virus."

The CDC recommends the following groups get vaccinated:

• All children between 6 months and 5 years old
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children between 6 months and 5 years old
• Adults 50 and older
• Pregnant women
• Health care providers
• People of any age with chronic medical conditions
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Children 6 months to 18 years old on long-term aspirin therapy
• People who live with or care for others susceptible to flu complications
• Anyone else, including school-aged children, who wants protection from the flu

If you don’t like needles, FluMist, the live, nasal spray flu vaccine, is also an option for healthy people 2 to 49 years old.

Children under 9 years who have never had flu vaccine need two doses.

"The ideal time to get a shot is in October or November before flu season is in full swing. It takes about two weeks to build immunity," said Barbara Ludwig, Immunization Program Manager for DHHS. "However, getting vaccine any month during flu season is certainly better than getting none at all."

Nebraska health care providers are starting to see some of their vaccine shipments come in. If you’re interested in flu vaccine, check with your health care provider or local health department."

Around 130 million doses of flu vaccine are expected to be available this year which would be more than ever before, according to the CDC.

In addition to vaccine, there are also several other things you can do to help keep yourself and your family healthy:

• Wash your hands often
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home from work, family gatherings and social functions if you’re sick
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough with a tissue or sleeve, not your hands
• Eat healthy and get plenty of rest
• Don’t smoke
• Get a pneumonia shot if you’re a candidate (talk to your doctor) to help cut the risk of serious flu complications

For more seasonal flu information, go to www.dhhs.ne.gov/flu.

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