Foo: ’Tis the season to get your flu vaccine

With the holidays come a whirlwind of activity that leaves very little time for rest. And that run-down feeling we often get during the season can make us more susceptible to illness, especially the flu.

But there is an easy way to help fend off one of the most insidious infections of the winter season: Get a flu vaccination. It is literally the gift that keeps on giving, not only to you but also to your loved ones.

Influenza is a serious respiratory disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Anyone can get sick from the flu. Those especially at risk from complications are adults 65 and older, children six months to five years of age, women who are pregnant and individuals with such chronic medical conditions as asthma, lung disease, heart, kidney and liver disorders and diabetes, and others with weakened immune systems.

Worried that it’s too late for the flu vaccine to do any good? Bah humbug, say the experts. Each flu season is unique, from the timing of peak flu activity to how severe a season will be. That’s why it’s important for all South Carolinians who have not yet received the flu vaccine to get one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control recommend that everyone six months of age and older get a yearly flu vaccine.

Even if you don’t have a regular health-care provider, you can still get the flu vaccine. In addition to county health departments, many doctor’s offices, clinics, pharmacies, college health centers, schools and workplaces now offer them. Find the one that works best for you.

So this year, give yourself the gift of a flu vaccination as soon as possible, and enjoy a happy and healthy winter. Learn more at scdhec.gov/flu.

This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 7:54 AM.