Prepare for the Flu Season

Influenza--or “the flu”—has similar symptoms to a cold but is more severe. It arrives each winter and leads to high fevers, respiratory symptoms, muscle aches and fatigue. It can lead to lost days at school for kids and lost days at work for adults.

Fortunately, there are some helpful steps you can take to ward off catching the flu.

Wash Your Hands - Washing your hands is my No. 1 recommendation for staying healthy. Viruses live on phones, door knobs, money—basically, everywhere—so when we touch surfaces and then rub our eyes or nose, we are exposing ourselves. Basic hygiene such as washing your hands and covering your cough will protect you against all germs. Everyone should practice good hygiene.

Get an Influenza Vaccine - The flu vaccine is the safest, most effective defense against it. People mistakenly believe that they can get sick from the vaccine. The vaccine is made by growing the virus and extracting certain parts to go into the vaccine. It’s just a piece of the germ and so can’t really cause you to get sick. It can cause your arm to be sore, and that can lead to general achiness, but to get seriously sick is not possible.

It’s coincidence when someone gets sick around the same time they receive the vaccine. Antibodies are the agents that fight off the flu germs, so the flu vaccine isn’t as effective during the first two weeks. That’s why we encourage people to get the flu shot before flu season hits.

Limit Exposure - One way to avoid sickness is to avoid sick people because illness-causing germs are spread through touching contaminated surfaces or through the air. If you have a fever, wait at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine before returning to work, church, or other places where people gather.

Healthy Living - A healthy lifestyle of eating fruits and vegetables daily, exercising several times a week and regularly getting a good night’s sleep will keep your immune system strong and better your chances of keeping winter illnesses at bay. Many fruits and vegetables are rich in immune-boosting beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

If you do get sick, the best thing you can do is drink plenty of liquids and rest.

For more treatment tips, visit kp.org/mydoctor/flu or call 1-800-KP-FLU-11 for other flu vaccine clinic information.

Flu vaccination locations
Walnut Creek Medical Center
9/30/17 and 10/14/17, Saturday, 9am-1pm

Park Shadelands Medical Offices

9/27/17-11/22/17, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm

Martinez Medical Offices
9/30/17, Saturday, 9am-1pm
10/2/17-11/22/17, Monday-Thursday, 9:30am-6pm

Antioch Medical Center
9/30/17, Saturday, 9am-1pm
10/2/17-11/22/17, MTWF, 9am-6pm and Thursdays 9am-7pm

Delta Fair Medical Offices
10/3/17-11/22/17, TWTh, 9am-6pm

Livermore Medical Offices
10/2/17-11/22/17, MWF 9:30am-6pm

Pleasanton Medical Offices
9/30/17, Saturday, 9am-1pm
9/27/17-11/22/17, Monday-Thursday, 9:30am-6pm

San Ramon Medical Offices
10/3/17-11/22/17, TWF, 9:30am-6pm

Randy Bergen, MD, is a pediatrician for Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek, a pediatric infectious-disease specialist, and the clinical lead for Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s flu vaccination program.