Bay Area Residents Urged To Get Flu Shots

BAY AREA, CA -- As the flu spreads in the Bay Area, health officials are urging the public to get flu shots and take other precautions to avoid catching or spreading the flu.

The best way to ward off the flu is by getting vaccinated, according to the California Department of Public Health. Health officials say that even if a person does get the flu after having the shot, the severity
and duration of the illness is significantly reduced.

Other basic steps people can take include washing hands often, avoiding close contact with sick people and avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Those who do get sick are advised to limit contact with others as much as possible, and to stay home from work for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities.

Pregnant women, people age 65 or older, people with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease and children younger than five - and especially those younger than two - are at high risk for
serious flu complications that can lead to hospitalization and even death, the health department said.

--Bay City News/Photo via Shutterstock