What To Do If You Think You Have The Flu
Your illness might be the flu if you have fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue . Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your health care provider. It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of symptoms alone. Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care. However, if you have symptoms of flu and are in a high risk group, or are very sick and worried about your illness, contact your health care provider. There are tests that can determine if you have the flu. There are also drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating the flu called antivirals.
If you get the flu, get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. Also, you can take medications such as Tylenol to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, except to get medical care or other necessities.
How Does Influenza Disease Spread
- Flu is spread by:–An infected person’s droplets from cough, sneeze or talk enter the mouth, eye or nose–Touching a surface or object with flu virus on it and then touching mouth, eyes or nose.
- An infected person can infect others 1 day before symptoms start and up to 5 to 7 days after symptoms start.
- Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.
How To Protect You And Your Family From The Flu
- Get the Flu Vaccine
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash after using it. If you do not have a tissue, cover your coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow, not your bare hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, it is recommended that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
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Attention Turns To Covid Boosters In Jefferson County As Cases Slow
In Jefferson County, some people are preparing to get their annual flu shot.
It comes about a week after the Ohio State Department of Health gave counties the go ahead to give a Pfizer booster for those eligible.
The county is awaiting guidance on a potential booster for the Moderna & Johnson & Johnson. It comes this first week of October with flu season also on the rise.
COVID-19 cases are beginning to slow down slightly in Jefferson County.
“Around the third week in September we hit the 400 mark for a 7-day average of cases and now we’re gradually seeing that number dip back down in the 300 level, Jefferson County Health Commissioner Andrew Henry said.
“It looks like we’re about two weeks after the peak, Dr. Mark Kissinger, medical director for the Jefferson County General Health District. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of cases out there. So, just because we’re down 100 cases over the last two weeks doesn’t mean we’re out of this.”
With the Pfizer booster available for those eligible, booster shot conversations now go to Moderna, as well as the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
“We still don’t have any news on whether there will be a Johnson and Johnson booster, Kissinger said. We also don’t know whether there’s going to be a Moderna booster. But the good news with Moderna is it looks like we may not need a booster at least for the short term.
While flu season is on the horizon, officials believe people should consider getting both.
Ldh Office Of Public Health Providing Free Flu Shots To Jefferson
- WHEN: Saturday, November 6, 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
- WHERE: Johnny Jacobs Playground: 5851 5th Ave., Marrero, LA 70072
CostStop the spread
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home and limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses that cause flu.
Flu shot factsFor more information
- Visit for weekly FluView updates from the CDC.
- For Louisiana-specific information, visit the LDH Fight the Flu LA webpage for information, resources, weekly flu activity reports and more.
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Health Dept Urges People To Get Flu Shots
The Jefferson County Health Department will begin offering flu vaccinations at the end of this month or early in October, said Brianne Zwiener, the agencys communications specialist.
She said people must make an appointment to receive a flu shot at the Health Department this year because of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Zwiener also said the Health Department plans to hold some flu vaccination clinics, but the schedule had not been determined as of Monday.
Sara Wilton, the Health Departments new epidemiologist, said the influenza season doesnt officially start until next month.
However, she said the Health Department has heard about a few influenza cases already.
Weve been getting some reports for the past couple of weeks, but its not been many, Wilton said.
Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said the county might see fewer flu cases this coming season, which begins in October and ends in May.
What were seeing in the southern hemisphere, which is usually a prediction of what were going to see, is lower case counts, she said.
Vollmar said flu cases also may be lower this season because people are taking preventive steps, like wearing masks and frequently washing hands to curb the spread of COVID-19, which also will protect them from the flu.
It will hopefully really make a difference in a lot of the respiratory illnesses that we normally see in the fall, winter, she said.
Vollmar said the flu shot has other benefits, too.
I absolutely believe that the
Need A Copy Of Your Covid
If you are a Jefferson County resident or participated in a Jefferson County General Health District vaccination event and need a replacement vaccine record, please complete the written .
Please return the form electronically via email to or print the form and send it through regular mail to 500 Market Street, 6th Floor, Steubenville, OH 43952.
A copy of your photo I.D. must be included with the authorization form.
You will receive a copy of your record from the state registry. You will not receive a card.
If the person in need of the record is under 18 years old, the person requesting the record must be their legal guardian.
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Thomas Jefferson Health District Offers Free Flu Shots At Greene County Point
For More Information Contact:
Kathryn W. Goodman, TJHD PIO, 434-270-4802
Thomas Jefferson Health District staff will once again test their capacity to respond to a major public health event by providing free flu shots in Greene County this Thursday, October 18, 2018. The exercise will be held at the Nathanael Greene Elementary School, 8094 Spotswood Trail, in Stanardsville, Va., on Thursday, October 18th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Flu shots are available at no cost to anyone who is at least three years of age. Shots will be administered on a first come first served basis.
We are happy to provide residents of Greene County with access to free flu shots. This point-of- dispensing exercise is a great opportunity for the health department to test our ability to respond to public health emergencies while providing community members with free shots to protect against the flu, said Ryan McKay, TJHD Emergency Coordinator.
The point-of-dispensing exercise, including the flu vaccine, is funded through the Virginia Department of Healths Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, which is responsible for responding to any emergency impacting public health through preparation, collaboration, education and rapid intervention. Exercises such as this contribute to the local health departments ability to provide widespread access to vaccine during public health emergencies.
The point-of-dispensing exercise will help TJHD test three public health emergency response capabilities:
How To Protect Yourself
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year.
A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older without an increased risk for a serious adverse reaction. It is especially important that certain people get vaccinated either because they are at high riskof having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.
You should receive a flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible. Vaccination should continue to be offered as long as flu viruses are circulating, even in January or later. While seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, during most seasons flu activity peaks in January or later. It is best to get vaccinated before flu viruses start to spread in your community since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.
For more information about seasonal flu vaccines, visit Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine.
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Who Should Be Vaccinated Against Influenza Because They Are At Increased Risk
- Children 6 months of age through 5 years. Adults 65 years of age or older.
- Pregnant women.
- Residents of nursing home and other long-term facilities.
- People who have medical conditions including the following:–Asthma.–Blood disorders .–Weakened immune systems due to disease or medication .–People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.–People with extreme obesity.
Free Flu Shots Available For Students At Jefferson County Schools
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Wis. Students in Jefferson County can take advantage of free flu vaccines being offered by health officials this fall.
The Health Department gains practice in setting up mass vaccination clinics, according to a Monday news release. Because these clinics are part of a mass clinic exercise, all children can receive the influenza vaccine for free regardless of whether they have health insurance or not.
Only the injectable vaccine will be available, according to health officials.
The vaccine this year protects against four strains of flu.
The dates and locations of the flu clinics are as follows:
WaterlooTuesday, Oct. 16, 4 p.m. 7 p.m.Waterloo Elementary School, 785 N. Monroe St, Waterloo
Johnson CreekThursday, Oct. 18, 3:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.Johnson Creek Elementary School, 305 Milwaukee St., Johnson Creek
PalmyraTuesday, Oct. 23, 4 p.m. 7 p.m.Palmyra Elementary School, 701 Maple St., Palmyra
Fort AtkinsonThursday, Nov. 8, 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m.Fort Middle School, 310 S. 4th St. East, Fort Atkinson
CambridgeThursday, Nov. 8, 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m.Nikolay Middle School, 211 South St. , Cambridge
JeffersonWednesday, Nov. 14, 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.Jefferson West Elementary School, 900 W. Milwaukee St., Jefferson
Lake MillsThursday, Nov. 15, 4 p.m. 7 p.m.Lake Mills High School, 615 Catlin Drive, Lake Mills
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What Are The Common Vaccine Side Effects And Risks
- Flu vaccines are safe, but some side effects can occur.
- Minor problems following the flu vaccine include soreness, redness, and / or swelling from the shot, hoarseness, sore, red or itchy eyes, cough, fever, aches, headache, itching, and fatigue.
- More serious problems may include Guillain-Barre’ syndrome in fewer than 1 or 2 cases per one million people vaccinated, children receiving multiple vaccines slightly increase in fever with seizure.
- People who should not get the flu vaccine include anyone with severe, life threatening allergies, had GBS before, or not feeling well the day of vaccination.
Jefferson County Public Health Announces Fall Flu Clinics
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. Flu season is just around the corner, and combined with the threat from COVID-19 health officials are preaching extra vigilance.
Having the flu and COVID-19 at the same time could make you more susceptible to serious complications, and while no one ever wants to be hospitalized, hospitalization during the novel coronavirus pandemic means facilities may be strained for resources and equipment, as well as have stricter visitation guidelines, a release from Jefferson County Public Health said.
With that in mind, Jefferson County Public Health has announced nine flu vaccination clinics that will be held between now and mid-December.
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Alabama Health Leaders Continue Push For Everyone To Get A Flu Shot
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama and Jefferson County health leaders are still pushing people to get a flu shot, even though early results from other countries show it was a mild flu season.
The CDC expects to increase shots from 194 to 198 million doses. Here in Alabama, the health department usually receives between 12,000 and 14,000 doses, but 200,000 will be available this year.
I got my flu shot in the last week or two, I think, Dr. Wesley Willeford with the Jefferson County Department of Health said.
Dr. Willeford is advocating shots. His boss Dr. Mark Wilson put out on social medial over the weekend that he and his wife got shots. Willeford said the shots work.
Really make sure this is the year you get your flu vaccine. We want to do everything we can to decompress our healthcare system because each year we expect more hospitalizations due to the flu, Willeford said.
Countries in the southern hemisphere where it has been winter already have had a mild flu season in part due to the safety precautions for COVID-19. Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said dont let this stop you from getting a flu shot.
We want people to take the flu seriously. The flu is always with us. The flu vaccine is safe and effective. Everyone six months and older should take the flu vaccine, Harris said.
Dr. Willeford said there could be a mild season in Alabama, but only if people continue to take the same necessary steps to protect themselves as with the coronavirus.
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Why Does Anyone Need A Pneumococcal Shot
- It protects against Pneumonia, which is a serious illness.
- Pneumonia can cause serious illness requiring hospitalization, or even death.
- Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, needlessly affects millions of people worldwide each year.
Find out about the best defense against Pneumonia from your healthcare provider.
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Shots For Tots & Teens
Shots for Tots and Teens’ goal is to make sure every child receives the immunizations needed to keep them healthy. The program offers low- and no-cost immunization clinics throughout the year in Aurora, Denver, Thornton and Arvada with the help of experienced immunization nurses, fire medics, paramedics, health care and community volunteers.
For information on individual clinics, including upcoming dates, locations and appointment requirements, please view the 2021 Shots for Tots and Teens flyer.
For more information you may also listen to the recorded immunization information line at 303-239-7192.
Who Should Be Vaccinated
- All children from 6 months through 18 years old*
- All persons 50 years of age and older
- All persons who wish to reduce their risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others
- Anyone with chronic health conditions, including heart, kidney, lung, or metabolic conditions, diabetes, asthma, or anemia
- Anyone with a condition that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems, such as seizures or cerebral palsy
- Anyone with a weakened immune system due to medical treatment or HIV
- Children and adolescents on long term aspirin therapy
- Healthcare personnel – Vaccination is strongly recommended to protect vulnerable patients
- Healthy household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age, or of adults over age 50
- Healthy household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for complications of influenza
- Residents of nursing homes or long term care facilities
- Women who will be pregnant during influenza season
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Flu Hits Jefferson County
Tips to avoid
Influenza has made it to Jefferson County.
According to Jefferson County Health Department Director Tom Machala, the county appears to have been experiencing a higher rate of flu cases than the rest of the state. Local clinics and the hospital have seen an increase in patients testing positive for flu during January.
Also, since returning from Christmas break, local schools have seen an increase in absences. In order to stop further spread, the Jefferson County Public Health Department recommends following these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
. Get a flu vaccination. The vaccine does help protect against some of the current flu viruses. The flu vaccine can still help to reduce hospitalizations and deaths.
. Stay home, cover your cough, wash your hands. If you are sick, keep your friends, family and neighbors healthy by staying home until you have been feeling better without medicine for at least 24 hours. Cover your cough by using disposable tissues or coughing into your shirt sleeve not into the air. Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and water for 30 seconds.
For more information about the flu, visit cdc.gov/flu.