Time to think about a flu vaccination

The peak of the flu season is on the horizon and along with that two Eunice pharmacists urge the public to get vaccinated.
Tina Marcantel of Augie’s Maple Avenue Pharmacy and Jake Bourque of Bellard’s Pharmacy discussed vaccinations for primarily flu, pneumonia and shingles at the Eunice Kiwanis Club meeting on Sept. 15.
People can get the flu anytime of the year, but as the weather cools and people stay inside the occurrence of flu rises, Bourque said.
“The flu is a virus that is spread by respiratory droplets between six and 10 feet through coughing, sneezing, talking and close contact,” Bourque said.
“You can be infected one to four days before showing symptoms,” he said.
But during that time the infected person spreads the virus, he said
Flu is a leading cause of hospitalizations in the U.S., he said. “The biggest concern is the secondary complications, more specifically pneumonia,” Bourque said.
“When you get the flu, the symptoms are usually sudden. You can have fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuff nose, muscle or body aches, but not everybody will have the fever,” he said.
One way to avoid getting the flu is to avoid people believed to be infected and hand washing, he said.
But the primary method to avoid the disease is through vaccination, he said.
The vaccination is effective for six to eight months, he said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend getting the flu vaccine by late October, he said.
The flu season peaks from December through February, he said.
Bourque also urged older to adults get vaccinated for pneumonia and shingles.
Adults 65 and older should be vaccinated against pneumonia and those 60 and older should be vaccinated for shingles, Bourque said.
A doctor’s prescription is needed for the shingles vaccination, he said.
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death for children under 5 and about a million people a year are treated for pneumonia, he said.
People from 19 to 64 may also benefit from a flu vaccination, he said.
Pneumonia is particularly dangerous for people with cardiovascular problems, diabetes and for smokers.
The shingles is extremely painful with blisters forming within seven to 10 days creating a painful rash that last about a month, he said.
The pharmacist also urged people to obtain a Td/Tdap vaccination against tetnaus, diphtheria and pertussis.
Other vaccinations suggested by the CDC for various age groups include:
— Human papillomavirus;
— Measles, mumps and rubella.
— Varicella (chickenpox).