It's that time of year again to protect yourself and your family from Influenza, also known as the "flu."

Influenza is a rather nasty virus that annually causes high fever, muscle aches and pains, and respiratory difficulty, including cough and trouble breathing.  For most people, it results in several days of missed school or work, but in many can cause hospitalization and even death.  Roughly 35,000 Americans die annually from influenza-related illnesses, mostly the young, the old, and those with underlying respiratory or immune diseases.  

Fortunately, there is a safe and effective vaccine that prevents most strains of Influenza.  It is recommended for everyone over six months of age but particularly for children under five, adults over sixty-five, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma.  It is essential that everyone in a family with children under six months receive the vaccine to protect those too young to immunize.

Some people avoid the vaccine for reasons that are not justified.  A common one is that they are afraid of getting the flu from the vaccine.  While the vaccine can cause some mild influenza symptoms, they are minor and inconsequential when compared to the disease itself.

Most medical practices have the Influenza vaccine in stock by early September, so call your doctor, make an appointment, and get immunized.