Days are growing shorter and a chill is in the air, sure signs that flu season is upon us. The flu is a contagious respiratory disease that infects the nose, throat, and lungs, especially in winter months. People often confuse the common cold for flu because the symptoms are similar. But, colds are usually milder than flu, which can have serious effects.

Flu can lead to serious complications, hospitalization, or even death. Pneumonia and bronchitis are examples of serious flu-related complications. Flu also can cause certain health conditions, like diabetes, asthma, and heart and lung disease, to become worse. Healthy people also can become sick with the flu and experience serious complications.

Reasons to get a flu vaccine:
• Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick from flu.
• Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization, including among children and older adults.
• Flu vaccination also has been shown to be associated with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes and chronic lung disease.
• Vaccination helps protect women during and after pregnancy. Getting vaccinated also protects the developing baby during pregnancy and for several months after the baby is born.
• Flu vaccination also may make your illness milder if you do get sick.
Even if you are one of the lucky ones who bounces back quickly from a flu illness, people around you might not be so lucky. You may be able to spread the flu to someone else before you know you are sick or while you are sick with the flu. Getting vaccinated yourself protects people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.

To make an appointment to get your flu shot, call the KANA Medical Clinic at 486-9800 or Mill Bay Health Center at 486-7300.