It’s not too late for flu vaccination

The flu appears to be hitting healthy young and middle-aged adults particularly hard this year, most likely due to the prevalence of the H1N1 strain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you or your co-workers or employees haven’t been vaccinated yet, it’s not too late. The flu season is nearing its peak and could extend into May.

Routine vaccination can reduce the incidence of the flu and its consequences in healthcare professionals and those for whom they care, yet vaccination rates of clinical and nonclinical personnel working in long-term care settings lag behind those of people employed in other healthcare settings, according to the CDC. The National Council on Aging’s annual flu prevention campaign, Flu+You, offers education materials for caregivers and residents, including toolkits for professional use in senior living spaces. The CDC answers many questions on its website as well.

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