Influenza (flu) season is rapidly approaching. It is now time to plan for getting your family's annual flu shots. The optimal time for receiving a flu shot is mid-October through November. Because flu season generally lasts through March, and sometimes into April, it is important not to receive your flu shot too early in order to assure you are protected throughout the whole flu season.

Illness associated with vomiting and diarrhea is often called the "flu" but is actually not. Influenza or the "flu" is a respiratory illness, characterized by headache, fever, cough and body aches. Protection from influenza vaccine peaks 2 weeks after vaccination and will diminish over the course of 6 months. If vaccination is received too soon, you may not be protected for the entire flu season. Children age 6 months to 9 years, who have not been previously vaccinated, need 2 doses of vaccine spaced at least one month apart. For previously vaccinated children, only 1 dose (beginning in mid-October) is needed.

While influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons over 6 months of age, the following are considered high risk and should make flu shots a priority:

• Persons over 50 years of age
• Persons less than 50 years of age with any high risk or chronic condition (cardiac or respiratory ailments, immune deficiencies)
• Children aged 6 to 59 months
• Health Care Workers
• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of persons at high risk (including children aged 0 to 59 months)

In addition to vaccination, the best way to prevent the flu, and the spread of flu, is to wash your hands frequently, cover your cough, avoid crowded situations during peak flu season, and stay home if you are ill.

For more information on influenza prevention, go online to www.cdc.gov/flu.