Flu vaccines, hand washing pushed by Public Health

During a Greenfield Chamber/Main Street networking lunch last Thursday, Adair County Public Health Director Stephanie Claussen announced that it was National Flu Vaccine Week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that receiving some form of the flu vaccine is a person’s best protection against the flu.

“Flu illness starts to increase around December and can last well into spring, so it is not to late to get your flu vaccine for this season,” Claussen said. “There is plenty of vaccine available and Adair County’s flu vaccination rate is currently around 23%, so we know there is more opportunity to decrease illness and keep more loved ones out of the hospital.”

The CDC estimates the flu has resulted in more than 9 million illnesses, 140,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths annually from 2010-2020, but recent studies have shown that flu vaccines reduce the risk of the flu by 40-60% among overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine.

Information provided by Adair County Public Health reads that while some people who get a flu vaccine still get sick, vaccination can make their illness less severe.

Flu vaccination is especially important for people with higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu, including children under 5, those who are pregant, adults 65 and over, and those who have chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease or asthma.

Public Health also reports that soap and water use, as well as alcohol-based hand sanitizer use, each have their own place in keeping the general public well during flu season.

Soap and water should be used in these specific situations:

• Before, during and after preparing food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the toilet

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom

• After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste

• After handling pet food or pet treats

• After touching garbage

• If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be used in these specific situations:

• Before and after visiting a friend or loved one in a hospital or nursing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridioides difficile (if so, use soap and water)

• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and wash with soap and water as soon as you can.

Those washing hands with soap and water are reminded to scrub their hands for at least 20 seconds (which is equal to humming the “Happy Birthday” song twice).

Those using alcohol hand-sanitizer should follow the same time frame but are reminded to not rinse or wipe off hand sanitizer before it is dry, or it may lose its effectiveness.

“Hand washing is one of the most effective strategies we have to stop the spread of respiratory viruses, bacteria and foodborne illnesses such as Norovirus. This is important to keep in mind during holiday season when everyone is out shopping, handling doors, shopping carts and public restrooms, and also preparing food and sharing utensils during holiday occasions,” Claussen said. “Make sure you have hand soap or hand sanitizer available with you and at gatherings for others to use and stay healthy this season.”