The flu virus does not play favorites it infects people of all ages and walks of life, from infants to seniors. In fact, the only people that are really protected from the seasonal flu are those who take the time to get an annual flu vaccine.
The flu virus does not play favorites it infects people of all ages and walks of life, from infants to seniors. In fact, the only people that are really protected from the seasonal flu are those who take the time to get an annual flu vaccine. Safe and effective flu vaccines like Fluzone® by sanofi pasteur, Inc. help protect people of all ages, from young children to seniors.
A triple threat against flu
Fluzone has a trivalent formulation that contains three strains of the flu virus identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being prevalent. These strains are: influenza A (California H1N1 like virus), influenza A (Victoria H3N2 like virus) and influenza B (Wisconsin like virus).
In addition, Fluzone is available in multiple presentations that are tailored to specific patient groups. For example, Fluzone is indicated for active immunization of persons 6 months of age and older, while Fluzone High-Dose is indicated for persons 65 years of age and older. Fluzone High-Dose is especially valuable for high-risk seniors who might develop life-threatening complications from catching the flu. For the 18-64 population, (especially those who are afraid of shots) Fluzone Intradermal is a new option for vaccine delivery using a shorter needle injected into the skin rather than the muscle.
An unpredictable virus
Even those who study flu patterns year after year struggle to predict an upcoming flu season because the virus is known to mutate. What the general public fails to recognize is that just because a previous flu season was mild it does not mean the next season will be equally tame in fact its quite the opposite! Sometimes a mild flu season can be followed by a more serious flu strain and outbreak, so when it comes to flu it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Health experts agree that flu vaccination is the most effective way to halt the spread of flu. Although the flu season can begin earlier and last longer, it usually starts in December, peaks in January or February, and begins to dwindle out in March. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), October and November are traditionally the primary vaccination months, but getting a vaccination in December or later is still recommended for those procrastinate and do not get vaccinated earlier.
Protect yourself, your family and co-workers
Summer is in full swing and many have turned their thoughts to vacation and fun in the sun. But flu season is just around the corner, and its never too soon to begin thinking about protecting yourself and others. Even if you are a healthy individual and you think you never get the flu, consider getting a flu shot to protect the children, seniors and pregnant women you may come in contact with. Remember, flu vaccines like Fluzone are part of the arsenal healthcare providers use to combat influenza. You can do your part by getting vaccinated each year and encouraging those around you to do the same.