Flu Season and Nursing Homes

Dan Frith

Contributor

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Summer is over and fall is just beginning - a beautiful time of the year, especially in Virginia as we anticipate the fall foliage. Unfortunately, with the changing of the season also comes a annual health threat to our loved ones who reside in nursing homes and assisted living facilities - the arrival of the flu and pneumonia season.

At least 45,000 Americans die each year from influenza and pneumonia, the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. 90 percent of these deaths are among people 65 years of age or over!

If you have a family member residing in a long term care facility, now is the time to schedule an appointment with your family doctor for a vaccination for flu and pneumonia (by the way your flu shot is free if you subscribe to Medicare Part B).

Influenza is most common in the U.S. from December to April, so it's best to get the flu shot from October through mid-November. The vaccine begins to protect you after 1 to 2 weeks.

Get your vaccinations scheduled now!