DO YOU, PREVENT THE FLU

Spotlight on Influenza

Flu Clinic Information:
Yarmouth Elementary School will have a flu vaccination clinic on October 9, 2019, during school hours for students.  Please fill out the vaccine screening and permission form completely for your child to receive the vaccination.  Insurance information is required to students to receive the vaccine.  Please review the linked vaccine information sheets, and contact Alison Thomson, School Nurse at 846-3391 with any questions or concerns.  

FluMist Information Sheet   Flu vaccine information sheet   Health Screening and Permission Form

Influenza Defined

Influenza is a virus that causes mild to severe illness. There are two main types of illness, influenza type A and influenza type B, which are responsible for the flu epidemic each year.  Influenza is a respiratory illness that mainly affects the nose and throat and sometimes the lungs

Symptoms 

Symptoms come on quickly and include 

• Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

How is Flu Spread

According to the CDC 8% of the US population becomes ill from influenza each year with children under the age of 18 twice as likely to become sick as those over age 18.  The flu is spread by droplet transmission. Tiny drops leave infected individuals when they sneeze, cough, or talk and land in the eyes mouth or nose of others making them sick. Also, though less common droplets can be transferred from surfaces to hands to mouths or eyes.  

How to Stay Healthy

                                                                  CDC.gov (9/17/19)

1. Get the flu vaccine
     

• A 2017 study was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccination can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from influenza. (Study was publish in Pediatrics)
• Flu vaccination prevented an estimated 85,000 flu-related hospitalizations during the 2016-2017 season

2.  Avoid close contact with sick people if possible

3.  Stay home while you are sick. The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

4. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.

5. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub

6. Do not touch your face