The Time To Fight The Flu Is BEFORE You Get It!

Stay healthy this winter by getting a flu shot this fall!

The caring professionals of Wheaton Franciscan Home Health are offering flu shots at a variety of convenient locations throughout Greater Milwaukee this fall.

Cost: Show a valid Medicare B Card or pay $30 (cash or check).
Pneumonia vaccine also available for those 16 and older ($45 cash or check).

Find a Flu Clinic Near You :
Milwaukee/Waukesha flu clinic dates are finished. Thank you for your interest in Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.

Click here to find a Racine flu clinic. One day left for our Racine location - November 26th.

For additional information about all our 2008 clinics, please call us toll-free at 1-888-9WHEATON (1-888-994-3286) or visit us on the web at www.mywheaton.org.

Flu Shots and Why You Need Them
What is influenza?
Influenza (the flu) is a serious illness caused by the influenza virus. People with influenza usually suddenly become ill with high fever, weakness and severe muscle aches. Anyone who has actually had this illness remembers the experience and will never want to have it again.

Although the flu can make you feel miserable, most people begin to recover from the flu in one to two weeks. Many people do not feel fully recovered for several months after this illness. Some individuals, especially those over age 65, develop serious, life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia. In an average year, the flu is associated with almost 20,000 deaths in this country. The older you are or the more health problems you have, the more likely you are to suffer complications.

Influenza is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. You can get the disease from being in the same room with someone who has the virus. Additionally people can transmit the illness before they have any symptoms. So people who appear healthy can give you this illness. That is why it is so important that you get the flu vaccine every year.

What is the Influenza Vaccine (the flu shot)?
The vaccine is a protein from the germ that causes the illness. This protein is not alive and cannot give you the illness. The virus changes constantly so it is necessary to get a shot every year. While the shot may not eliminate the possibility of getting the flu, if you get flu after receiving the vaccine, you will likely have a much milder case of the flu
Here are a few things to keep in mind about flu shots:
You cannot get the flu from having the shot. The influenza vaccine does not contain a live virus so it cannot give you the flu.

Most people will have a sore arm or a slight fever for a day or two after the shot.
Vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalization and death even if you still develop the flu.
Flu viruses vary from year to year, so it’s important to get a shot every year.

What is the pneumonia shot?

The pneumonia vaccine is an excellent preventative step. Most people should have one pneumonia shot when they are 65 or older. Talk with your doctor about whether or not the pneumonia vaccine is for you.
For more information, call 1-888-9-WHEATON (1-888-994-3286) or visit www.mywheaton.org

Most Asked Questions –
Question: What’s the difference between a cold or the flu?
Answer:

A cold and the flu cause many of the same symptoms. A cold is generally mild, though, while the flu tends to be more severe.
With a cold, you might feel tired, sneezy, and have coughing and a runny nose. You might have no, or a low, fever. You might also have muscle aches, a scratchy or sore throat, watery eyes and a headache.
The flu usually hits hard. You can feel weak and tired, and symptoms might include a fever, dry cough, runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain and sore throat.

Question: What are some home remedies for cold or flu symptoms?
Answer:

Stay home and rest! This is especially true while you have a fever.
Avoid smoke, which can make symptoms worse.
Drink plenty of fluids – water, juice, clear soup. Fluids help loosen mucus. Since a fever can sap your body’s fluids and cause dehydration, this is especially important if you have a fever. Try to stay away from dairy products, since they don’t loosen mucus.
Don’t drink alcohol.
Gargle with warm salt water to relieve a sore throat. Lozenges may also help.
Use saline (salt water) nose drops to help loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin in your nose.