HEALTH CHECK:
GET YOUR FLU SHOT NOW

By John Fickewirth, Local 18 Insurance Consultant

Without a doubt, the best defense against illness is a good offense—and that means taking a proactive approach to your health. Starting with this issue of the Surge, I will write a monthly column that focuses on preventive health care, and how you can take the steps necessary to stay healthy. If you have any suggestions about future topics, do not hesitate to forward them to the editor.

This month, let’s talk about flu-shot season, which traditionally runs from mid-October to late November. This is an annual “rite of passage” that IBEW Local 18 members and their families do not want to forget—especially those members who work directly with the public.

Some of you may remember that there was a shortage of flu shots last year. This resulted in the elderly and more vulnerable individuals getting their flu shots first. However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is plenty of influenza vaccine available this year—allowing everyone who wants a flu shot to get one in a timely manner.

Why are October and November such crucial months for getting a flu shot? Because this gives the body enough time to develop immunity before the flu season starts. However, vaccination in December or later can still be beneficial.

Winter is the prime time for influenza. Influenza season typically ranges from November through March, or beyond. According to the CDC, flu activity peaked in January or later during 22 of the past 26 influenza seasons.

The CDC says that anyone who wishes to avoid influenza should be vaccinated. The agency strongly recommends influenza vaccination as soon as the vaccine is available for any person who is six months old or older and is at increased risk for complications from influenza. Those at highest risk for complications include people 65 years old and older, and those with chronic, long-term health problems such as heart or lung disease, kidney problems, diabetes, asthma, anemia, HIV/AIDS or any other illness that suppresses the immune system.

The CDC also recommends vaccination for people ages 50 to 64 years, because this group has an increased prevalence among those with high-risk conditions.

I want to remind Local 18 members and their families that it is very important to understand that influenza is an illness which must be taken seriously. It causes approximately 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations each year. More than 90 percent of deaths occur among people age 65 and older.

Interestingly, the influenza vaccine is reformulated each year to match the currently circulating viruses. While it does not always completely protect from infection, the shot greatly lowers the risk of a patient dying or becoming seriously ill.

If you have any questions about whether you or a family member should get a flu shot, or if you want to know how to obtain a flu shot, contact your primary care physician. And don’t delay on this one. The last thing you need is to come down with a nasty case of the flu to start off 2004.

Through your Blue Cross CaliforniaCare plan, you and your family have access to the finest doctors and one of the most extensive networks in the state. With CaliforniaCare, you can build a relationship with your own network doctor, with almost all benefits—including doctor visits, hospitalization, well-baby care, surgery, eye and hearing exams—for little or no out-of-pocket cost.