Now is the time for flu shots

With flu season kicking into high gear, the MGH is encouraging all hospital employees and patients who have not yet received a flu shot to protect themselves and help prevent the spread of influenza by being vaccinated. November is one of the best times to receive a flu shot because it takes two weeks after vaccination for full immunity to develop. Individuals who receive the flu shot now will continue to have immunity for the entire flu season and will not experience reduced immunity by February. This also complies with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and other public health recommendations.

While annual flu shots are beneficial for many individuals, the vaccine is particularly recommended for people who fall into the following categories:

• Health care providers who come into direct contact with patients
• Infants and children ages 6 months through 4 years old
• Individuals over age 50
• Women who may be pregnant during flu season
• Infants, children and adolescents receiving long-term aspirin therapy
• Adults and children with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart, lung or kidney disease
• Organ transplant recipients or patients on immunosuppressive therapy
• Adults and children with certain muscle or nerve disorders that can lead
  to breathing or swallowing problems
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
• Caregivers and household members of individuals who fall into any of the above categories

It is particularly important for health care workers with patient contact to be vaccinated, as influenza can be infectious before symptoms appear. Health care providers who do not know they are infected could transmit the flu to patients, who may be young children or older adults or have underlying conditions that could put them at risk for serious complications.

MGH Occupational Health Services is offering walk-in flu shot services for employees every Thursday, from 10:30 am to 5 pm at 165 Charles River Plaza, Suite 404. For more information about employee influenza vaccinations, call Occupational Health at (617) 726-2217. The MGH also is offering flu vaccinations for hospital patients Monday through Thursday, from 9 am to 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, from 9:30 am to 4 pm, on the first floor of the Wang Ambulatory Care Center. MGH patients also can be vaccinated by their primary care doctor or nurse or through organizations in their local communities such as senior centers, visiting nurse associations and drugstores, all of which may offer flu clinics.