Our favorite November holiday tradition is, of course, Thanksgiving, and few among us would consider the year complete without it.
Local and state health officials want us to add another annual tradition to the November calendar, although there are plenty who will find it hard to celebrate:
Get a flu shot.
It is not nearly as fun as football and feasting, but everyone should get one before Dec. 1. Let the experts at San Juan Basin Health Department and the Montezuma County Public Health Department provide some great reasons:
— Everyone six months and older should get a flu shot by the end of November because flu activity can peak as early as December.
— Vaccinations prevent or reduce flu illness, missed work and school, and prevent flu-related complications.
— Annual vaccinations protect not just individuals, but the larger population as well, including the elderly, the very young, pregnant women and others vulnerable to serious flu complications.
One of the most common respiratory illnesses, flu infects millions of people every season. We all know the signs and symptoms; it can be miserable, but usually not for very long. But the fact remains that the flu can be deadly to a few vulnerable people every year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a bit of bad news for anyone hoping to avoid a needle this year. The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for use during the 2016-2017 flu season because of concerns about its effectiveness. That means only injectable vaccines should be used.
Flu shots are a preventative-care benefit for both children and adults covered under the Affordable Care Act, and for most people, the immunization will be free. They are also available through doctors’ offices, pharmacies and health department offices throughout the Four Corners. San Juan Basin Health Department has a limited supply of specialized high-dose vaccine for seniors and preservative-free vaccine for pregnant women. Contact them for information.
For even the most procrastination-prone among us, the benefits of getting the shot far outweigh the reasons not to. To borrow a popular cowpoke expression, “Just git ’er done.”
We will all be thankful.
