Now you need to be vaccinated against the flu more than ever

Every year you hear it from your health care provider and public health department: The best way to protect yourself from the flu is to get the flu vaccine every year. The flu vaccine prevents you, your family and friends, your colleagues, and even people you don’t know from getting sick with the flu and developing complications like pneumonia. Vaccination also protects healthcare professionals at the forefront of fighting COVID-19, while saving on the medical supplies and other resources needed for a pandemic.

All Delaware people over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated now if they have not yet been vaccinated against the flu. Influenza vaccines reduce the risk of influenza illness, hospitalization, and death by about half. Fewer cases of influenza help healthcare providers recognize COVID-19. In order to keep Sussex County the healthiest by avoiding people getting sick with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, we all need to be vaccinated against the flu.

People of all ages, races and ethnicities can get the flu. People with chronic illness, adults aged 65 and over, children under the age of 5 (especially babies and children under the age of 2), pregnant women and women within 2 weeks of the end of pregnancy are at greatest risk of influenza is. , Native Americans and Alaskans, and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. DPH recently published a case confirmed in the state’s first laboratory for influenza in 2020-21 in children under the age of five in Kent County.

DPH advises Delaware people with chronic illnesses to closely manage their health to avoid unnecessary medical examinations and hospitalizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with these underlying conditions have serious influenza complications such as asthma, blood disorders, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, neurological conditions, obesity, and weakened immunity. There is an increased risk of causing. To read the entire list, go to CDC.gov.

It only takes a few minutes to get a flu shot and there are many options for where to get the flu shot. These are available from healthcare provider offices and pharmacies throughout the state. Patients at federal-qualified health centers such as Westside Family Healthcare and La Red Health Center provide their patients with the flu vaccine. Uninsured or uninsured residents of Delaware have dozens of appointment-based DPH clinics, other community health centers in dozens of locations, or DPH and medical systems such as Beebe Healthcare and Westside Family Healthcare. You can get the flu vaccine at the free regional flu clinic. Visit Flu.Delaware.gov to find the location of your flu vaccine near you.

The CDC has secured additional doses for millions of children and adults to prevent a deficiency of influenza vaccine. In Delaware, DPH has partnered with 12 hospitals, medical networks, and associations to motivate Delaware citizens throughout the state to get the flu vaccine as soon as possible.

Beebe Healthcare has boosted its annual flu campaign to reach more Sussex County residents than ever before. They encouraged people to go to a free flu clinic by car, bike or on foot. Beebe’s “Vaccinate in 48” flu campaign was a huge success, offering high-dose options to people over the age of 65. Beebe Healthcare has more than 800 vaccinations totaled last year, with additional clinics planned by the end of November. For daily updates on the availability of influenza vaccines, please visit the Beebe website and Facebook page or call the Beebe Community Flu Hotline: 302-291-6 FLU. It doesn’t matter where you go to get vaccinated. Just shoot!

Here are some important steps you need to take to fight the flu:

• Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider for you and your family to get the flu vaccine, or go to your local pharmacy to get vaccinated.
• If your insurance does not cover the flu vaccine, visit Flu.Delaware.gov to find a flu clinic in your area.
• Aim to get the flu vaccine as soon as possible. It takes two weeks for antibodies to the virus to accumulate.
• Encourage friends and family members, especially those at high risk, to get the flu vaccine.
• Find out more about influenza vaccines at Flu.Delaware.gov. Share this website with anyone who is worried about getting a flu shot.

The flu vaccine is safe. It does not cause flu or other illnesses or symptoms. Influenza vaccines cannot prevent COVID-19 infection, but increasing influenza vaccination has become an important element of our work to prevent illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Praise for those who have already been vaccinated against the flu! If you haven’t been vaccinated against the flu, give it priority. You will care for yourself, protect your loved ones, and protect our community.

Karyl Thomas Rattay, MD, MS is Director of Public Health at the Department of Health and Social Services, Delaware. She is a board accredited in pediatrics, has completed pediatrics training at Georgetown University, and has completed a preventive medicine and public health training program at the University of Maryland. She holds a doctorate in medicine from Ohio Medical College and a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Maryland.

David A. Tam, MD, MBA and FACHE became President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare on March 17th. He is a prominent and skilled administrator with experience as an officer in the US Navy and large public health systems. He completed pediatric training at the US Navy Hospital in Oakland, California, and a Child Neurology Fellowship at Virginia Medical College.