RI Health Urges Residents to Get Flu Shots Now
Friday, December 13, 2019
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is urging citizens to get flu shots.
“After getting a flu shot, it usually takes someone roughly two weeks to start developing the antibodies that provide protection against the flu. For people who have not been vaccinated and who plan to get together with family and friends for the holidays, now is the perfect time to get vaccinated. A flu shot can help you avoid serious illness, doctor visits, missed work, or missed school, and it can also help you keep the people you love healthy and safe by reducing the spread of the flu,” said Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH.
According to RI Health, anyone older than six months should be vaccinated every year especially elderly, young children, pregnant women, healthcare workers, and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma or diabetes).
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWidespread Flu
According to RI Health, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and more than a dozen other states are reporting widespread flu, which is the highest tier in the five-tier system used to measure flu activity.
The flu in Rhode Island is currently regional (the tier just short of widespread).
To date, there has been one flu-related death and 24 flu-related hospitalizations in Rhode Island this flu season.
During the 2018-2019 flu season, there were 39 deaths and 1,032 hospitalizations associated with the flu.
Health Tips
The Rhode Island Department of Health offers the following tips to stay healthy:
- Get vaccinated against the flu. By being vaccinated now, you can still get several months of protection.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough into your elbow. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Wash your hands carefully with soap and water regularly, especially right after using the toilet or changing diapers, taking or giving someone else medicine, and before eating or preparing food.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs frequently.
- Stay out of work or school if you are sick. If you become sick with a flu-like illness, you should not go back to work or school until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
- If you experience vomiting or diarrhea, stay home until after those symptoms clear completely. Sick workers in restaurants and other foodservice occupations, schools, child care centers, healthcare facilities, must not return to work for 48 hours after symptoms abate.
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