Flu season is fast-approaching and members of the St. Clair community are already taking preventative action to fight against the virus.

On Wednesday St. Vincent’s St. Clair hosted “Breakfast with the Doc,” a free seminar open to public.  The seminar provided information about the virus and the flu vaccine.

Guest speaker Cathie Scarbrough, M.D., talked about how the virus affects people and offered advice to people about ways to avoid getting the flu.

According to the CDC, 3,000 to 49,000 people die each year from the flu.  90 percent of deaths occur among people 65 and older.

Scarbrough said, “The number varries so much from year to year based on the number of people who get the flu shot.  The more people who receive the vaccine the less deaths there are.”

High risk populations for being exposed to the flu include: children less than two years of age, those 65 years and older, pregnant women, people with certain medical conditions, those on chronic medications and people with weakened immune systems related to illness and diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Since the 2009-2010 pandemic of the H1NI virus affected people worldwide, it is now recommended that everyone older than six months get the vaccine.  The vaccine is designed to treat the three most common strands of the virus.  The 2011-2012 vaccine contains two “A” strands, H1N1 and H3N1 and a “B” strand.  The vaccine is made up  of inactivated, dead strands.  After the body has been exposed to a dead strand of the virus, the body becomes immune.

Scarbrough said, “So many people believe that getting the flu shot will give them the flu.  The flu shot does not give people the flu.   If someone gets sick after they get the flu shot, it’s because they were already exposed to the virus.”

The flu is considered to be highly contagious and can cause severe complications, the biggest one being pneumonia.

The flu spreads from person to person through small droplets in the air within a radius up to six feet.  Germs are also shared when people touch common surfaces.

“Patients who get the flu describe it as though they felt like they have been hit by a Mack truck,” Scarbrough said.

Symptoms of the flu may include headaches, body aches, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and fatigue.  Some people also experience vomiting and diarrhea.  However, those symptoms occur more commonly in children.

Scarbrough said the CDC suggests three preventative measures people can to take to avoid getting the flu this season.  People need to take the time to go get vaccinated. People also need to take action everyday to prevent the spread of germs like avoiding close contact with sick people and washing hands regularly.  Taking flu antiviral medication, if prescribed by a doctor, can shorten the time a person may be ill and help prevent complications.  

Recommendations for people who contract the virus include staying home and resting, avoiding contact with others, getting plenty of fluids and taking Tylenol.

Inise Garner who attended the seminar said, “I’m here to get information about the flu for my mother.  I am trying to get all the information she needs, and I think this is very good for the community.”

The St. Clair County Health Department will offer flu shots to the public on Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Medicaid or Medicare patients can receive a flu shot for $ 5.00.  The St. Clair County Health Dept. is located at 1175 23rd Street North in Pell City.  St. Vincent’s Family Care in Pell City will also offer flu vaccines beginning Monday, Oct. 3.