As the start of cold and flu season creeps ever closer, our licensed practical nurses in Florida wanted to remind everyone that now is the time to get prepared for the inevitable. Each year, thousands of Americans catch the contagious illness and depending on the individual involved, the consequences of doing so could very well be deadly.

Last year alone, slightly more than 100 children died nationwide from their bout with the flu and there is no telling how many adults perished as well. The people that did get sick typically had one of several different flu viruses, including H3N2, H1N1 and H3N2. In Florida, residents also came down with H7N9 and the Department of Health noted that some pregnant adults had died from their bouts of the flu.

So with that in mind, our licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and baby nurses are all urging Floridians over the age of 6 months to consider getting a flu vaccine before October. That’s because it normally takes 14 days for the body to full respond to the vaccination and the season usually kicks into high gear once November rolls around. Plus, in order to be fully protected from this year’s potential strains, some children may need a second shot four weeks after the initial one.

Our in-home, private duty nurses also wanted to mention that a fear of needles shouldn’t stop Floridians from getting vaccinated. There are actually nasal spray vaccines available too and they are just as effective as intramuscular and intradermal shots. So an injection is not always needed to protect one from the flu.

Using proper hand washing and infection control procedures will also undoubtedly help Florida residents protect themselves this year. To learn more about those procedures and how licensed practical nurses may help people recover at home from the flu, please contact us today.