By Dr. Stephen Parodi, Kaiser Permanente Regional Chief of
Infectious Disease It is that time of year again. Kids come home
with fevers and coworkers try and fight off their flu symptoms
while at work. One of the best ways to protect yourself and your
family however is with the flu vaccination. Why get a flu shot?
The flu is more serious than the common cold, so do everything
you can to prevent it. On average, 36,000 Americans die each
year of the flu. Symptoms often include fever and chills, muscle
or body aches, headaches, coughing, sore throat, exhaustion, and
diarrhea. Most flu-related deaths can be prevented by
immunization however. A flu shot (or the nasal spray version) is
your best defense. The vaccine is safe, won't make you sick, and
generally has few side effects. Kaiser Permanente members can
call 1-800-KP-FLU-11 or visit kp.org/flu for details on free flu
clinics. Do I need a shot every year? The flu virus changes
often and the protection from the vaccine only lasts for about a
year. If you're no