Remind your patients about the importance of getting a flu vaccine

Most people who get the flu will experience a mild illness but won’t need medical care or antiviral drugs and will recover in less than two weeks. Some people, however, with chronic conditions such as asthma and congestive heart failure can experience complications leading to pneumonia or bronchitis that can result in hospitalization and sometimes death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a three-step approach to fighting the flu:

1. The flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. The vaccine protects against the viruses that research indicates will be most common.
2. Everyday preventative actions include avoiding close contact with sick people, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and washing your hands often with soap and water.
3. Antiviral drugs may be prescribed to treat the flu and shorten sick time. They work best when started in the first two days of symptoms.

If patients become sick with the flu, they should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care.

While you should encourage patients to call you with any concerns, most people can recover at home without medical care. During flu season, people should keep physician recommended over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs and tissues in their home.