Get a Flu Shot

When you were younger, the flu was just one of those things you dealt with. You felt lousy for a week or two, but you still went to work or cared for your kids as best you could. Then it passed and you moved on. Now that you're older, though, the flu is a much more serious problem.

Flu causes about 36,000 deaths and more than 100,000 trips to the hospital every year. Most of the cases involve older patients or those with a chronic medical condition. That's what makes a flu shot so important to everyone in the following high-risk groups:

* People 65 years of age and older.
* Adults and children who have chronic heart or lung diseases.
* Adults and children with diabetes, kidney disease, or severe forms of anemia.
* Health care workers in contact with people in high-risk groups.
* Caregivers or people who live with someone in a high-risk group.
* Residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities.

Because flu usually strikes from December on, you need to get your flu shot in October to mid-November. It takes about two weeks for your immune system to develop protection from the flu vaccine.

If you haven't scheduled your flu shot, do so now. Call your doctor or ask your health plan about flu shot locations in your area.