October 15, 2009

Dear Wayland Residents:

In preparation for this year’s Flu Season please be advised of these three important key reminders:

Vaccination:
Seasonal Flu:
As always, we encourage you to be vaccinated against seasonal flu through either your private medical provider or our Public Health Nurse, Ruth Mori, as vaccine becomes available. It still should be available prior to the circulation of seasonal flu.

H1N1 Flu:
We will encourage you to be vaccinated against this novel flu strain once the vaccine becomes available and/or as per your priority of need as relates to the Massachusetts Public Health recommendations. As supplies become available, this information will be communicated to you.

Please note that there are five groups which have been identified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)  to get this vaccine when it becomes available:  pregnant women; people who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months of age (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers); health-care and emergency medical services personnel; people age 6 months to 24 years; and persons age 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.  Note:  Current studies indicate the risk for infection among people over 65 years of age is less than the risk for younger people.

Prevention

• Get seasonal flu vaccine every year especially if you have a medical condition, which makes health complications from the flu more likely.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into the inside of your elbow if you don’t have a tissue.  Throw tissues away and wash your hands. Always wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose or mouth. 
• Use a regular household cleaner to clean things that are touched often, like doorknobs, toys, phones and faucets.
• Avoid close physical contact with people who are sick. Try to stay at least 3-6 feet from someone who is sick with the flu. 

Stay home if sick
If you have symptoms of the flu, it could be either the seasonal or H1N1 flu virus. Flu symptoms may include a temperature of 100.4 or greater, cough, sore throat, body aches,
and fatigue.  It is important to stay home if you display the above symptoms and avoid contact with others so that the virus does not spread. One should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without a fever-reducing medicine such as Advil or Tylenol.