flu shot

Making sure to frequently give your hands a thorough scrub — with soap and for about as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song a couple of times — can significantly cut your chances of catching the flu or other respiratory virus.

Worried About Catching The New Coronavirus? In The U.S., Flu Is A Bigger Threat

8:02pm January 29, 2020

by Allison Aubrey

At least 8,000 people have died from the flu in the U.S. this season. The good news: Easy steps you can take now to protect against the flu may also help you steer clear of the new coronavirus.

It's still pretty early in the flu season, but some states, including Texas and North Carolina, are already reporting the first influenza deaths, including at least 10 children. Most kids each year who die from the flu had not been vaccinated.

Health & Safety

Do You Really Need A Flu Shot? Here's How To Decide

5:46pm December 20, 2019

by Tara Haelle

The internet abounds with myths about the relative risks of flu and flu shots, maybe partly because it's an annual shot and nobody likes needles. Here's the latest on what you might need — and why.

Though complications from the flu can be deadly for people who are especially vulnerable, including pregnant women and their newborns, typically only about half of pregnant women get the needed vaccination, U.S. statistics show.

Get Your Flu Shot Now, Doctors Advise, Especially If You're Pregnant

7:27am October 21, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

Pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease are particularly vulnerable to flu complications yet lag the elderly in getting vaccinated.

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Health & Safety

North Carolina's Flu-Related Deaths Down From Last Year

4:46pm February 18, 2019

by Bethany Chafin

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported 52 flu-related deaths statewide so far this season.

Charlie Hinderliter got a bad case of the flu back in January. He spent 58 days in the hospital, underwent two surgeries and was in a medically induced coma for a week.

Last Year, The Flu Put Him In A Coma. This Year He's Getting The Shot

8:02am October 14, 2018

by Bram Sable-Smith

When 39-year-old Charlie Hinderliter got the flu last winter, he ended up in a medically induced coma and spent 58 days hospitalized. Serious, even fatal, complications can hit patients of any age.

Alex Schwartzman, a law student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., is one of only 8 to 39 percent of college students who get the flu shot in a given year.

Health & Safety

Think You Don't Need A Flu Shot? Here Are 5 Reasons To Change Your Mind

10:08am October 01, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

College students are among the least likely to get vaccinated against the flu, which killed more than 80,000 people last winter. Experts say the reasons are a combination of fear and misperception.

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Health & Safety

Flu-Related Deaths In North Carolina Reach 200

8:34am February 26, 2018

by Bethany Chafin

Last week there were 27 new flu-related deaths reported by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

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Flu Deaths Across North Carolina Rise; CDC Releases Flu Shot Data

4:28pm February 15, 2018

by Eddie Garcia

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' latest report, 17 more residents have died from the flu.

Simone Groper got her flu shot in January at a Walgreens pharmacy in San Francisco. Flu season will likely last a few more weeks, health officials say, and immunization can still minimize your chances of getting seriously sick.

Young Kids Are Getting The Best Protection From Current Flu Vaccine

2:34pm February 15, 2018

by Richard Harris

Overall, this season's vaccine is about 36 percent effective in blunting or preventing flu, health officials say. That's better than earlier predictions, and good enough to prevent flu in thousands.

A review of the evidence suggests that alerting people — by text, phone call or other method — when they're due or overdue to get a particular vaccination can boost immunization rates.

Got Your Flu Shot Yet? Consider This A Reminder

7:11am January 29, 2018

by Patti Neighmond

A research review suggests reminding people when their vaccinations are due or overdue increases the number of people who get immunized.

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