Posts Tagged ‘flu’

From the Virginia Department of Health, “… we have entered what is likely our period of highest activity with influenza-like activity (ILI) and confirmed cases of influenza remaining widespread across Virginia.”

Influenza vaccine administered late in the influenza season has special benefit for specific groups:

• Newly pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant will benefit from vaccine protection now and early in the next flu season. In addition, their infants will have a reduced risk of hospitalization for influenza-like illness during their first six months of life.
• Any child aged 6 months through 8 years, who received seasonal influenza vaccine for the first time this year, should get a second dose during this season. Two doses this season means the child will only need one dose next year and subsequent years.
• Travelers to the Southern Hemisphere during our summer months should be vaccinated prior to their departure.

They’re back. Seasonal allergies, and soon the flu.

A lot of people are coming in for their dental appointment and report having a cold for a couple weeks, sore throat, headaches, and feeling run down – with the HIGH pollen count (click here for our local pollen count), it’s is most likely you have seasonal allergy symptoms.

The Seasonal Flu Vaccine

And … it’s time again to think about getting a flu shot, which is generally offered between September and mid-November - typically before the late-fall to early-winter start of flu season. It takes up to two weeks to build immunity after a flu shot. Read the rest of this entry »

Influenza-driven activities are starting to accelerate in Virginia. This week surveillance has shown an increase in influenza activity from “Regional Activity” to “Widespread Activity” which means that influenza is present in more than three of Virginia’s five regions. This is the highest level of activity and is unusual for this time of year. Read the rest of this entry »