A. Go to www.LorainCountyFlu.com/fluclinics to view a map and calendar of upcoming flu clinics. There are many easy to find places for you to get your flu shot quickly.

Q. Who should get a flu shot?

A. All people 6 months of age and older should get a flu shot every year.  Especially, people who are at risk of severe flu and their close contacts including:

• Health care workers

• Pregnant Women

• Children younger than 5

• People 50 years of age and older

• People with a chronic illness

Q. When should I get my flu shot?

A. Yearly flu vaccination usually begins in September or as soon as flu shots are available. Vaccination should continue throughout the flu season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and length of the flu season varies. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time, flu activity peaks in January or later.

Children under 9 years of age will need 2 doses of the vaccine the first year they are vaccinated. The second dose should be given at least 28 days (4 weeks) after the first dose. If a child needs 2 doses, it is best to begin the process early so that the child is protected before flu season starts circulating in his or her community.

Q. How long is a regular flu shot good for?

A. A flu shot provides protection against flu strains contained in the shot through one flu season. But you’re not fully protected until 2 weeks after getting a flu shot.

Q. Is the flu dangerous for children to have?

A. Flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children.

• Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of flu complications.

• Some children will die from the flu each year. During the 2007-08 flu season, CDC received reports that 86 children died from flu related complications.

• Severe flu complications are most common in children younger than 2 years old.

• Children with chronic health problems like asthma and diabetes are at a high risk of developing serious flu complications.

Q. What are the symptoms of the flu?

A. Flu is a respiratory illness. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Muscle or body aches

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Q. Will new strains of flu circulate this season?

A. Flu viruses are constantly changing, so it's not unusual for new flu virus strains to appear each year. For more information about how flu viruses change, visit “How Can the Flu Virus Change.”

Q. Can you get a seasonal flu shot if you are not feeling well?

A. If you are sick with a fever when you go to get your flu shot, talk to your doctor or nurse about getting your shot at a later date. However, you can get a flu shot if you have a respiratory illness without a fever; or if you have another mild illness.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine can be given to people with minor illnesses, such as:

• Diarrhea, or

• A mild upper respiratory tract infection, with or without a fever. If a person has nasal congestion, he or she should consider waiting to get the nasal-spray flu vaccine. He or she may want to wait until the nasal congestion is reduced. This is because the nasal congestion may limit the vaccine's ability to reach the nasal lining.

Definitely talk to your doctor before getting a flu shot if you have:

• Any questions about whether you should get a flu shot;

• Ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs;

• Ever had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu shot; or

• A history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Q. What are signs of a fever?

A. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). If you are not able to measure a temperature, the sick person might have a fever if he or she:

• Feels warm

• Has a flushed appearance

• Is sweating or shivering

Q. How can I keep from getting sick and spreading flu to others?

A. Families, employees, students, and school staff can keep from getting sick with the flu in three ways:

1. Wash hands often:  Students and staff members should wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. (See the Handwashing Video.)

2. Cover your cough/sneeze: Flu spreads from person to person in the droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.

3. Keep sick at home: Keeping sick at home means not sharing illness where you live, work, and play. Everyone can take action to prevent the flu from spreading.

Q. I am allergic to eggs. Can I receive a flu shot even though I am allergic to eggs?

A. People who have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to chicken eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not be vaccinated.

Talk to your doctor before getting a flu shot if you:

• Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs;

• Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu shot; or

• Have a history of Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS).