Protect yourself against the flu

It’s flu season. Your best protection against the flu is to get the influenza vaccine every year. Find a location near you. Don’t like shots? Get the flu mist instead.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older should get a flu vaccine. The vaccine is especially important for:

• Young children
• Adults ages 50 and older
• People with chronic health problems or an impaired immune system
• Pregnant women

In addition to vaccinations, other precautions to avoid catching influenza include:

• Clean surfaces you touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
• Get plenty of rest, physical activity and eat healthy to help stay healthy.

If you get influenza

Stay home from school or work. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow.