Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 2 : Fall 2010 | Page 49
coughing or sneezing. Throw the used
tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a
tissue, sneeze or cough in to your sleeve.
•Wash your hands with soap and water, especially
after you cough or sneeze, after using the
bathroom, and before eating.
•Maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your immune
system strong. This should include getting
plenty of rest, eating a well-balanced diet,
and exercising regularly.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, which
are all places where germs can enter your
body.
•If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, the CDC
recommends that you stay home for
at least 24-hours after your fever is gone
except to get medical care.
•Try to avoid close contact with people who are
sick or exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
Another course of action for preventing the spread
of influenza is vaccination. The seasonal vaccine, which
is usually given in late fall, offers protection against
viruses that typically cause the flu during the winter
months. While it’s impossible to predict with
complete accuracy what strain of the virus
is likely to cause illness each year, researchers
gather and analyze data from around the world
to come up with a “very well-informed guess”
as to what vaccine combination will work best
at preventing the spread of the flu. However,
the seasonal vaccination will provide little to no
protection against the H1N1 virus because it is a
different strain from the common wintertime flu.
To get the maximum protection this year, people will
need to get one vaccination for the seasonal flu and one
(or possibly two depending on clinical trials currently
in progress) for the H1N1 virus. “We anticipate that
seasonal flu vaccines will be available a little earlier this year
because manufacturers have increased production sooner in
response to the pandemic,” said King. “The H1N1 vaccine
is new, so the production of that vaccine will take a little bit
longer.” King added that the CDC estimates the H1N1
vaccine should be available in the United States sometime
in November.
While there is no anticipated shortage, people at
greater risk will be among the first to receive the new H1N1
vaccine. These groups include:
•Pregnant women
•Household contacts and caregivers of children
younger than 6 months of age
•Healthcare and emergency medical services
personnel
•All people ages 6 months to 24 years of age
•People 25 to 64 years old who have health
conditions associated with higher risk of
medical complications from influenza.
For more information about upcoming local flu
vaccination clinics, visit www.carymedicalcenter.org or call
Cary Medical Center’s Public Relations Department at
498-1158. Additional resources about the H1N1 virus can
be found at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, www.medlineplus.gov,
www.who.int, and www.maine.gov/dhhs.
Oh, so what about graduation you might ask?
As it turns out, much of the cancellation talk leading up
to commencement day was, in fact, rumor. In May, my
classmates and I proudly marched across the stage during
a lovely outdoor ceremony at which I received a Master’s
of Science in Business diploma. The weather was fantastic,
thousands of people filled the stadium to cheer us on, and,
aside from the University President announcing that, “in
light of recent news, graduates don’t have to feel obligated
to shake hands in the receiving line”, the nasty little bug
known as H1N1 didn’t spoil our otherwise wonderful day.
Healthy You is a free community health and wellness
program from Cary Medical Center. For program
information or calendar of events, log on to www.
carymedicalcenter.org or call Cary Medical
Center’s Public Relations
Get noticed in Aroostook County’s
only full color magazine publication
.
[email protected]
207.472.3464
FALL & WINTER 09 County Health 47