Thank you CVS Minute Clinic for sponsoring our conversation about the Flu.
It’s almost Halloween and there are ghosts and goblins on every street corner, fake spiderwebs on bushes, and kids are getting ready to go trick or treating. But for my family Halloween season also means it’s time for us to get our flu shots.
I know there are lots of opinions out there on whether or not you should get a flu shot, but in our family with myself and my boys having asthma flu season can get really scary really quickly.
So before all your cute vampires, ghosts, and likely a princess Elsa (or two) head out to celebrate the season… let’s talk Flu Season for a minute.
What is the “flu”, anyways?
The flu is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. It can develop very quickly and with flu, you always have a fever. Other common symptoms include headache, sore throat, dry cough, stuffy or runny nose and muscle aches (ugh).
When is “flu season?”
The timing, severity and length of the annual flu season varies from one season to another, but outbreaks can begin as early as October, and tends to peak around January or later.
How serious is it?
Certain people are at greater risk for complications with the flu, including seniors, young children, pregnant women and those with certain health conditions like asthma or diabetes. A misdiagnosed flu can lead to complications, so if you are unsure if it’s the flu or a cold, see your doctor or MinuteClinic practitioner.
For how long is it contagious?
The flu can be passed on even before someone realizes they’re sick, since most healthy adults can infect others 1 day before and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Children or those with weakened immune systems, that period is even longer.
How can I protect my family?
The best way to prevent the flu is to get the vaccination, but you can also make sure you are following these daily tips!
10 Tips to Stay Healthy During Flu Season
- Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, and discard of the tissue in the trash. Sneeze into your sleeve if a tissue is not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as germs can spread easily that way.
- Avoid contact with those who are sick. Flu is thought to be mainly spread from person-to-person contact (coughing and sneezing doesn’t help!).
- If you’re sick, stay home from school or work to keep others from getting infected.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Drink lots of water every day.
- Exercise! Aim for 30 minutes of movement everyday.
- Take a multivitamin.
- Get 8 hours of sleep a night!
Did you know…
MinuteClinic vaccinates patients 18 months and older. If you have a child between 6 and 18 months, they should receive their vaccination from a pediatrician.
Will it be covered by insurance? Health insurance plans, including Medicare Part B, typically cover the full cost of a flu shot, and MinuteClinic accepts most insurance! We also accept cash payment. And…BONUS! Customers will receive a 20% off CVS/pharmacy Shopping pass when they get a flu shot at CVS/pharmacy or MinuteClinic.
Learn more about the flu at: www.cdc.gov/flu and MinuteClinic’s vaccination offerings at: http://bit.ly/ZQZVDn
How do you stay healthy during flu season?
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I’m good with most of the things on the list, but not all. I need to take a multi-vitamin; I’m inconsistent. Also, I have to get a flu shot!
I tend not to be a pill taker and that is in any form, one reason doctors hate that I won’t take medicine for my back pain. So vitamins are out for me and I know I really need to start taking multi-vitamins, I just tend to forget. I can’t get the flu shot, last time I did I broke out horribly in some type of rash all the way down my arm and ended up really sick. Being sick scares me since I came pretty close to death a few years back. I do make sure that the kids and I do everything on your list and even carry the hand sanitizer with me.
Great tips! The kids got the nose spray flu shot on Tuesday. I still need to get mine. It is on my to-do list for sure!
Those are great tips! We stay healthy by getting flu shots, eating healthy and drinking lots of water!
These are great tips! Hand washing is SO SO important! Vitamins and supplements are, too!
I lead a very healthy lifestyle, yet I’ve been sick back to back for the past month. I’m almost tempted to buckle down and getting a flu shot much as I hate needles.
Flu season is scary, and thankfully we haven’t had the flu in our house in years.
I have a daughter with an airway disease, but she has a fear of needles, so it makes getting the flu shot quite an ordeal. #3 is the hardest for my kids to understand. This is the season that I just can’t bear to take them to the grocery store because of the hands touching every surface imaginable.
My nephew is the first casualty of the flu season around here. It’s so hard to see the kids miserable! I haven’t had a flu shot ever, but it’s probably time.
First of all, just LOVE your skeleton photo! Those two are adorable. To stay healthy we try to adhere to our bedtime routine, wash hands more often and go out less. With little kids, they touch (and lick!) everything.
I need to add this to our calendar to complete. We’ve yet to get our shots.
Great tips! I got my flu shot and the kids are getting theirs next week!
I hate seeing my son sick. Hand washing is the most effective way to keep to stay healthy. Thankfully we have never had the flu as we are not for the flu shots.
That’s true. Hand washing and a healthy diet I think are the most important. With our asthma though we can’t risk it at all.
Great tips, I especially love the SLEEP one. For all of us, we try to get enough sleep because it helps keep you healthy and I think you just feel better overall. My kids don’t believe me, and aren’t happy over their early bedtimes but at least I know it’s for the best.
Hmm I am 7/10 I have some work to do. Need to eat more healthy, definitely need multivitamins and try and go to bed early. However all these seems to elude me – wish me luck.
It is that time, isn’t it? I love fall and winter, but not all the illnesses they bring.
Love the ten tips. We also just try to stay healthy overall by eating right. 🙂
Yes, eating right is so important! If we all spent a little more on organic and non-gmo foods we’d all have less health care bills. 😉
thanks for the flu advice! Sleep definitely helps me stay healthy!