Preparing for flu season starts well
before anyone in the family gets
the sniffles.
Timing your flu vaccination is key
to prevention as well as staying on top
of general illness prevention measures
such as – hand washing, stocking
your home medicine cabinet with the
supplies you may need, and keeping
handy contact information for your
primary care provider and preferred
urgent care location.
If you are in any high-risk group,
you may need to talk to your primary
care provider on how to treat cold and
flu symptoms at home, keeping in mind
your medical conditions.
Vaccine Recommendations
The time to get a flu shot is September through December
with the ideal time being around Halloween.
“This generally gives the full protection for our full flu
season through March,” said board-certified family medicine
physician Dr. Michelle Folsom-Elder of CalvertHealth
Primary Care. “If you can shoot for Halloween, you have
protection by Thanksgiving, before we see an uptick in
flu cases.”
The flu vaccine fairly reliably protects against various
strains of the flu. Flu tends to be at its peak in our area
starting in December. However, getting the flu shot too early
means the protection it offers may wane by late spring when
we still get cases in the community, Dr. Folsom-Elder said.
Dr. Folsom-Elder recognizes that changes within the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could
prompt people to be hesitant about the flu vaccine this year.
She urges patients to talk with their primary care providers
and trust their recommendations regarding your flu care
and prevention.
It’s a common myth the flu vaccine can cause people
to get sick, but Dr. Folsom-Elder said, “When you get
a vaccine, it’s your body’s job to make antibodies for
whatever we are vaccinating you against. When you make
antibodies, it may make you tired, achy or make your
temperature go up. It can’t give you the actual virus.”
Plus, sometimes people get sick after a flu vaccine
when there’s already community spread of the flu. This
means getting the flu shot on time is necessary.
Managing Symptoms
Managing flu symptoms varies based on whether you are considered
high-risk or not. The CDC considers high-risk patients to be those
who are 65 or older, children under the age of 5 but especially
under the age of 2, pregnant people, and those with chronic medical
conditions.
Those who fall into high-risk categories should call their primary
care provider to start treatment in the first 48-72 hours of symptom
onset to avoid getting even more sick. Prescription flu medications
can sometimes shorten the life of the flu and reduce the likelihood of
complications. These medications help by slowing down the infection
process, allowing the body’s immune system to better combat the virus
and reduce the severity and duration of the illness. However, over-thecounter
medications may still be needed to manage symptoms.
For those who are not high-risk who have flu symptoms,
Dr. Folsom-Elder says it’s usually okay to see how you do for the first
couple of days with over-the-counter medication.
Over-the-counter options for flu symptoms include Tylenol® and
Motrin®. Tylenol® is approved for use from birth, but Motrin® is for
after 6 months old. For people over 1-year-old, honey can reduce
coughing. Saline nasal sprays and suction can help with congestion.
Humidified air can help reduce the likelihood of continued problems
and can ease symptoms for all age groups and risk factors.
Whether you are at a high-risk or not, a high fever or shortness
of breath is cause for concern and to call your primary care provider.
If they are not available, visit an urgent care location.
“Urgent cares can do testing; they can give nebulizers. Some
urgent cares have X-ray capabilities to make sure there’s no
pneumonia,” Dr. Folsom-Elder said.
If you have diabetes or hypertension, be cautious about the sugar
contents in over-the-counter medications. Those with diabetes should
purchase sugar-free cough syrups, while those with hypertension
should avoid medications with decongestant. Make sure to have a
conversation with your provider before the onset of flu season to
come up with a plan of safe treatment for your situation.