EDITORIAL
By Ruth Luse
National Influenza Vaccination Week, which runs through Dec. 3, emphasizes the importance of continuing seasonal flu vaccination through December and January, according to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
The department tells us it’s not too late to get a flu shot even for the upcoming winter season.
Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, in a news advisory this week, said: "It’s important to remember that getting vaccinated in December and even January will provide protection from the flu."
Who should get these shots?:
People 50 and older, people with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and pregnant women.
Health care workers and caregivers of high-risk individuals.
Children from 6 to 23 months. This year, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has expanded that recommendation to include children 24 to 59 months.
Taking the time to get the vaccine is just good common sense because about 200,000 people are hospitalized yearly in the United States because of influenza. About 36,000 of these victims die. And there is no supply shortage this year. According to the CDC, about 77 million doses already have been distributed nationwide and the supply is expected to reach an all-time high.
Besides getting vaccinated, there are other ways we can reduce the risk of getting the flu.
"People should wash their hands frequently, stay home if they’re sick and avoid people if they are sick," the commissioner noted.
It’s also of value to practice good hygiene habits, such as covering coughs and sneezes and disposing of tissues properly. These habits become even more important as we approach the holiday season when people socialize more often.
For more information on influenza, including where you can find a flu shot, visit www.nj.gov/health/flu/index.
If you are one of those who should get the vaccine and have not, there is no time like the present.