{"id":589,"date":"2009-09-01T09:00:01","date_gmt":"2009-09-01T13:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ehealth.cooperhealth.org\/?p=589"},"modified":"2009-09-01T09:00:01","modified_gmt":"2009-09-01T13:00:01","slug":"dont-wait-seasonal-flu-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2009\/09\/01\/dont-wait-seasonal-flu-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Wait to Get Your Seasonal Flu Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"fluThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this year is recommending that families get their seasonal flu vaccines as soon as they can.<\/p>\n

With the nation\u2019s focus on the development of a vaccine for the H1N1 pandemic flu expected to be available later in October, health officials are concerned that families might choose to wait to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu.<\/p>\n

Each year, as many as 60 million Americans get the flu, and the resulting complications cause more than 200,000 hospitalizations annually, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n

Also, children between the ages of 2 and 17 reportedly are twice as likely as adults to get seasonal flu and frequently require medical care.<\/p>\n

While protection against the H1N1 influenza virus might be just around the corner and foremost on our minds, safeguards against seasonal flu viruses still are necessary and are available now.<\/p>\n

“We may be thinking about the need for an H1N1 vaccination, but we can’t forget the importance of getting vaccinated first for the seasonal flu,\u201d said Anat R. Feingold, M.D.<\/a>, Head of Cooper\u2019s Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An expert in pediatric infectious disease, Dr. Feingold took part in last month\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Play With the Flu<\/a>\u201d national health-awareness campaign \u00a0led by MedImmune, the biologics business for Astra Zeneca PLC,\u00a0in partnership with Women\u2019s Professional Soccer and the American Youth Soccer Organization. The high-profile campaign kicked off in New York City with a one-of-a-kind soccer clinic led by soccer legends Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very important to increase seasonal flu vaccination rates for eligible children and families,\u201d Dr. Feingold said. \u201cAlong with all the things that parents know are important for helping keep their kids healthy, like washing hands and getting enough sleep, influenza vaccination should be at the top of the list. It\u2019s a smart defense to help protect our kids \u2013 and ourselves \u2013 from seasonal flu,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

See your healthcare provider to get the flu vaccine, or seek out other locations where the vaccine is being offered.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s seasonal flu vaccine protects against three, new influenza virus strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the 2009-2010 flu season. They are:<\/p>\n