Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we're talking about flu prevention. This is the best time to be vaccinated against the flu in order to have full protection by the time flu season begins. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say vaccinating your kids may be the best way to help stop the spread of flu in your family and community.
Kids may be more likely to be exposed to the flu virus because they're prone to touching things or putting things in their mouths. They don't usually wash their hands often, and they're likely to get physically close to others while playing at school or day care. If kids get sick, then they can spread the illness to unvaccinated friends or family members. Dr. Octavio Ramilo, a UT Southwestern pediatrician, says focusing on school-age kids for vaccination can have a big impact on slowing the spread of flu in a community.
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October 2006
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