Healthy members of Congress and their employees have gotten their flu shots. So too have players on the Chicago Bears football team. But unless you know a dishonest doctor or fall into one of the selected risk categories that qualifies you as vaccine-worthy, consider yourself out of luck in this season of flu shot discontent.
While Director of the Student Health and Wellness Center Dr. Alain Joffe said that health care professionals must make tough choices when deciding who will get the vaccine, college students generally find themselves losing out.
He said that Hopkins' inability to acquire flu vaccines means that students should take precautions, and focus on preventing themselves from getting a disease that can be deadly, especially for those with compromised immune systems.
Nearly 36,000 people died from the flu in the United States last year and experts warn that number that could rise considerably given this year's dramatic decrease in the people who will not have immunity. But while the thought of going for a year without a flu shot is daunting for some, doctors say there is plenty that people can do to reduce their risk.
In fact, health experts reason that this season's flu shot shortage may lead people to adopt so-called respiratory etiquette, meaning that handshakes will take a hiatus as a customary greeting and that sterile masks that were popular in some countries during the SARS outbreak could quickly become as ubiquitous as hats or sunglasses.
In fact even though flu season is not yet here, there have already been reports of people "masking up," according to Washington State Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky who was interviewed by the Seattle Times.
But masks and etiquette aside, much of the advice of health care professionals amounts to little more than common sense. The easiest way to prevent contracting germs is to wash your hands frequently, to always keep them away from your nose and mouth and to avoid large crowds whenever possible. It may seem counterintuitive, but staying away from flu-afflicted friends may not provide much protection.
People who have the flu are most contagious during a period of one to four days before they show symptoms, providing a window when people do not realize that they are sick but they could be passing on their germs.
With the onset of symptoms comes the inevitable helpless feeling that accompanies the flu. While patients flood doctors' offices with calls and requests for appointments, doing so will not accomplish anything because there are no medications or remedies that help your body fight the flu. Unlike bacteriological infections like strep throat or pink eye, the common cold and the flu are both viruses on which antibiotics do not have any effect.
The best that doctors can do is provide common sense tips to address the symptoms. They can, however, help steer angst-ridden flu sufferers away from the long list of remedies that stock store shelves. According to the Food and Drug Administration, Americans spend more than $1 billion on remedies that are simply ineffective.
Instead, doctors suggest sticking to the basics: getting plenty of rest and taking aspirin or other pain relievers to alleviate muscle aches, headaches and fever. To alleviate throat pain, some suggest adding one-quarter teaspoon of salt to two cups of water and then gargling the mixture.
Doctors also suggest drinking at least one eight-ounce glass of liquid for every waking hour. Doing so is essential for people suffering from a fever but it also can help prevent bacterial complications from the flu.
For congestion, experts recommend using a nasal spray that can be purchased over the counter. Last, don't forget to have plenty of mom's chicken soup. Salty liquids such as soup combat the dizziness that can cripple even the toughest of flu sufferers.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.