Protecting Your Family From the Flu

To protect you and your family against the flu, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step.  The CDC also recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October, and before the flu begins spreading in your community.  This is because it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body.

The timing of flu is unpredictable and can vary from year to year; however, seasonal flu activity often begins as early as October and November and can continue to occur as late as May.  In the United States, flu activity most commonly peaks between December and February.

In addition to getting a seasonal flu vaccine, you can take everyday preventive actions like staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs.  If you are sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading flu to others.  

Parents can encourage their children to use good hand washing techniques and teaching them to sneeze or cough into their inner arm/elbow area.  For more parent tips, please see the attached Flu Basics Fact Sheets.  

Here is a fun activity book for elementary aged students:

Flu Fun reading

Flu Basics English

Flu Basics Spanish