Flu Clinic Dates
Register Online
Or copy and paste into your browser:
https://adhschoolfluprereg.arkansas.gov/WebsiteContent/Show-WebsiteContent-HomePage.aspx
October 10 @ 8:30 Eagle
October 11 @ 8:30 Woodland
October 17 @ 12:30 Forest
October 18 @ 8:30 HHS/A-School
October 18 @12:30 Skyline
October 24 @ 8:30 Skyline @ 12:30 HMS
October 20@ 12:30 A-school
Register Online
Or copy and paste into your browser:
https://adhschoolfluprereg.arkansas.gov/WebsiteContent/Show-WebsiteContent-HomePage.aspx
October 10 @ 8:30 Eagle
October 11 @ 8:30 Woodland
October 17 @ 12:30 Forest
October 18 @ 8:30 HHS/A-School
October 18 @12:30 Skyline
October 24 @ 8:30 Skyline @ 12:30 HMS
October 20@ 12:30 A-school
INFLUENZA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes that school
administrators, teachers, staff, and parents are concerned about the flu,
particularly its effects on children. Schools are instrumental in keeping their
communities healthy by taking actions such as posting information about hand
hygiene in restrooms, providing flu prevention messages in daily announcements,
and being vigilant about cleaning and disinfecting classroom materials.
The following are some answers to questions commonly asked by school
administrators, teachers, staff, and parents:
General Information about the Disease
What is influenza (flu)?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It
can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way
to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Every year in the United States, on average:
- 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
- more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications;
- 20,000 of those hospitalized are children younger than 5 years of age;
and - about 36,000 people die from flu.
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain
health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk
for serious flu complications.
How does the flu spread?
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing
of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching
something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most
healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day
before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after
becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to
someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are
sick.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Symptoms of flu include:
- fever (usually high)
- headache
- extreme tiredness
- dry cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle aches
- Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but
are more common in children than adults
Although the term “stomach flu” is sometimes used to describe vomiting,
nausea, or diarrhea, these illnesses are caused by certain other viruses,
bacteria, or possibly parasites, and are rarely related to influenza. Please
also see Is it a Cold or the Flu.
How long is a person with flu virus contagious?
The period when an infected person is contagious depends on the age and
health of the person. Studies show that most healthy adults may be able to
infect others from 1 day prior to becoming sick and for 5 days after they first
develop symptoms. Some young children with weakened immune systems may be
contagious for longer than a week.
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are
caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar
flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based
on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and
symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more
common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are
more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in
serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or
hospitalizations.
How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?
Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even
impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special
tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be
carried out, when needed to tell if a person has the flu.
More information about Flu: The Disease.
Preventing and Treating the Flu
What can I do to protect myself against the flu?
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step
in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu
viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that
research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The
vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses or it can
make your illness milder if you get a different flu virus.
If you do get the flu, antiviral drugs are an important treatment
option. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler)
that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster.
They may also prevent serious flu complications. This could be especially
important for people at high risk. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if
started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).
In addition, you can take everyday preventive steps like frequent hand
washing to decrease your chances of getting the flu. If you are sick with flu,
reduce your contact with others and cover your cough to help keep germs from
spreading.
What kind of flu vaccines are there?
There are two types of vaccines that protect against the flu. The “flu shot”
is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle,
usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people 6 months of
age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions
(such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). A different kind of vaccine,
called the nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes referred to as LAIV for Live
Attenuated Influenza Vaccine or FluMist®), was
approved in 2003. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains attenuated (weakened)
live viruses, and is administered by nasal sprayer. It is approved for use only
among healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Each of the two types of vaccine contains three influenza viruses, which are
chosen based on information about recently circulating strains. Each of the
three vaccine strains in both vaccines – one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus,
and one B virus – are representative of the influenza vaccine strains
recommended for that year. Viruses for both vaccines are grown in eggs.
* “Healthy” indicates persons who do not have an
underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza
complications.
How do flu vaccines work?
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that
research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The 2011-2012
flu vaccine provides protection against the three main viruses that research
indicates will cause the most illness this season. The 2011-2012 flu vaccine
will protect against an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus
and an influenza B virus. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that
provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.
Flu vaccines (the flu shot and the nasal-spray flu vaccine (LAIV)) cause
antibodies to develop in the body. These antibodies provide protection against
infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.
At what age should a child be vaccinated?
CDC recommends that all children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday get
a flu vaccine. CDC also recommends that people in contact with certain groups of
children get a flu vaccine in order to protect the child (or
children) in their lives from the flu.
The following contacts of children are recommended for influenza vaccination
by CDC:
- Close contacts of children younger than 5 years old (people who live with
them) should get a flu vaccine. - Out-of-home caregivers (nannies, daycare providers, etc.) of children
younger than 5 years old should get a flu vaccine. - People who live with or have other close contact with a child or children of
any age with a chronic health problem (asthma, diabetes, etc.) should get a flu
vaccine. - In addition, CDC recommends that all health care workers be vaccinated each
year to keep from spreading the flu to their patients.
Children 6 months up to 9 years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first
time will need two doses of vaccine the first year they are vaccinated. If
possible, the first dose should be given in September or as soon as vaccine
becomes available. The second dose should be given 28 or more days after the
first dose. The first dose “primes” the immune system; the second dose provides
immune protection. Children who only get one dose but who need two doses can
have reduced or no protection from a single dose of flu vaccine. Two doses are
necessary to protect these children.
What are influenza antiviral drugs?
Influenza antiviral drugs are prescription medicines
(pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses
from reproducing in your body. Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and
make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
This could be especially important for people at high risk.
How are antiviral medications used for flu?
While getting a flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect you from the
flu, antiviral
drugs can be used as a second line of defense to treat the flu or
to prevent flu infection. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started
soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). When used this way, these
drugs can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick
by 1 or 2 days. They also may make you less contagious to other people.
Flu Resources for Schools
Where can I get more information about the flu?
For more information and updates about the flu, call CDC’s hotline or visit
CDC’s Web site. You can call the CDC Flu Information Hotline
(English and Spanish) at:
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
888-232-6348
(TTY)
You can visit CDC’s
flu Web site where you can access the following:
- Information about preventing the spread of flu in schools;
- “Be
a Germ Stopper” and “Cover Your Cough” posters
formatted for printing; - “It’s a SNAP” toolkit, which includes activities that
school administrators, teachers; and students and others can do to help stop the
spread of germs in schools.
Find contact
information for your state or local health department.
See Key Facts about Seasonal Flu, a fact sheet
including information about flu symptoms, how flu spreads, and how to prevent
flu.
See The Flu: A Guide
for Parents
[252 KB, 2 pages] , a flyer answering
questions about the flu, how to protect your child, treatment, and more.
For more information about both the flu shot and the nasal spray vaccine,
visit Questions
& Answers: Seasonal Flu Vaccine.
For more information about treating flu and flu symptoms, including
information about why children or teenagers with flu-like symptoms should NOT
take aspirin, visit Seasonal Flu: What To Do If You Get
Sick.