Dubois County Health Department Continues Flu Shot Program as Flu Becomes Widespread in Indiana

BY: DAVID SHEPHERD, NEWS DIRECTOR / PHOTO: HEALTH CENTRAL

AREA WIDE -- Area doctors are warning residents about the flu… calling this year’s strain “aggressive.”

It’s already being classified as “widespread” in Indiana.

The CDC says they haven’t seen this many cases this early in the flu season for at least five years.

Dr. Sandy Morris says there are things you can do to keep yourself safe from the flu.  She recommends taking the following steps...

- Wash your hands often with soap and water.

- Use hand sanitizer.

- Avoid spending time around people who are sick.

- Stay home if you have the flu or flu-like symptoms.

- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth -- germs spread this way.

- Clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with germs.

If you get the flu, you should stay home and limit your contact with other people. If your symptoms become severe, call your doctor or go to the hospital.

And, of course, health professionals want you to get that flu shot before you get sick.

"Everybody should get a flu shot," Dr. Morris says, "but it's most crucial for people who are higher risk, such as the very young, the very old, people with compromised immunity, and people with lung diseases."   She added, " The flu shot does not contain a live virus, so there's no way to get the flu from a flu shot," Morris explained. "After your flu shot, some mild, generalized achiness, a little bit of fatigue, and maybe a low-grade fever are all normal. That's because it's part of the process of getting immunity."

The Dubois County Health Department offers flu vaccines daily from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and from 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

You can also get the vaccine from your doctor and even some pharmacies will administer the shot.