The Flu Shot: Just Do It

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the flu affects up to 35 million Americans each year, of whom approximately 500,000 will require hospitalization, and up to 50,000 will die from complications of the virus.

But that was only until last year.

Last year’s US flu season was a record-breaker:

49 million people contracted the flu.

900,000 people were hospitalized due to the flu, the highest number in modern history.

79,000 people died as a result of the flu, shattering the previous record set in the 1970s.

180 children died as a result of the flu, a record for pediatric deaths due to the seasonal flu.

The CDC recently issued a report that offers up another disturbing statistic: nearly 7% fewer people were vaccinated against the flu last year — the lowest rate since 2010. Only one in every four adults was vaccinated.

And yet, vaccination is the best way to avoid getting the flu. The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of six months gets vaccinated every year to protect them from the flu. Annual vaccines are required because a different strain of flu is dominant each year.

It is especially important for people who are at high risk of complication get vaccinated. That doesn’t just mean people who have medical conditions, like asthma, or a compromised immune system. Senior citizens are also at high risk of flu complications, and should get a vaccine — unless they are told by a doctor that there is some compelling reason they should not.

Today, there is little excuse for not getting a flu shot. It is available in pharmacies and schools, as well as in health clinics and the doctor’s office. And if you don’t like shots? You can get the vaccine administered through a nasal spray.

Just do it.

At Tower Lodge Care Center, in Wall, NJ, we specialize in geriatric care, and are uniquely qualified to care for the needs of seniors. We take a restorative approach to care, maximizing each resident’s ability to maintain function and enjoy life. And that includes keeping them safe from the flu and other infectious diseases.

Check our reviews on senioradvisor.com, wellness.com, and caring.com to see why we are the best choice for your loved one.

Better yet, contact us, at 732-681-1400, or by clicking here to schedule a tour.