(NAPSA)—Theflu is nothing to sneeze at, so it’s a good idea to protect yourself and your family by getting vaccinated. “All of us are experiencing concerns over the threat of the new H1N1 (“Swine Flu”),” says Bonnie Offit, M.D., FAAP, Children’s Hos- pital of Philadelphia. “However, we need to prepare ourselves for the seasonal flu, which every year proves to be a very serious threat. The best way that we can protect ourselves and our children is to get an annual influenza vaccine. While we wait for safety andefficacy studies on the new H1N1 vaccine, we should all be getting our flu vaccines as early as possible. Please don’t wait—get vaccinated whenclinics open.” Flu Facts: Many Americans are not aware of the true dangers of the flu. On average, each yeartheflu: Kills almost as many Ameri- cans as breast cancer, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kills two to three times more updated each year to protect against the currentstrains. Find Help: Whether you want a flu vaccination for an elderly parent, a child or yourself, there are several online educational resources to help you with questions regarding the flu virus. You can visit www.findaflushot.com/clinic to access a flu clinic locator, schedule a flu shot reminder, read the lat- est flu news and learn about H1N1. How to Protect Yourself: In addition, the CDC says you Kills the equivalent of a major-league stadium full of people can reduce yourrisk of catching the flu by taking the following precautions: Avoid close contact with people whoare sick Stay home whenyou are sick flu-related complications, such as pneumonia, resulting in 200,000 nose and mouth. Americans than HIV/AIDS Affects 65 million Americans as they fall victim to influenza and hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, reports the Journal of the American Medical Association. An influenza activity report released by the CDC found that 92 percent of the pediatric deaths resulting from influenza in the last few flu seasons were in children who weren’t vaccinated. Each year, the influenza strains change but, fortunately, vaccina- tions against influenza are also Cover your mouth and nose Wash your hands often Avoid touching your eyes, Other ways to stay healthy during this flu season and all year round: Get plenty of sleep Exercise regularly Drink plenty of fluids Eat nutritious foods Manage yourstresslevel. Learn More: To learn more, call (866) 534- 7330 or visit www.findaflushot. com/clinic.
