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This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about getting a good start on the school year. We usually don’t talk about flu shots until later in the fall, but this year swine flu concerns make flu something to think about now.
Dr. James Luby, an infectious disease expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says a flu shot can prevent the flu or make it less severe. The regular seasonal flu shot won’t protect against swine flu, but preventing seasonal flu is important for keeping kids healthy, and health experts are recommending that people be vaccinated earlier this year. A swine flu vaccine will be available later in the season. Children should also wash their hands or use hand sanitizer frequently and should learn to keep their hands away from their faces. If children have flu symptoms such as fever, sore throat and aches, they should stay home from school to avoid infecting other children.
Visit www.utsouthwestern.org/infectiousdiseases to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in infectious diseases.
