Influenza (flu) is a nasty illness that can create havoc with a person’s routine and health. The flu is easily spread from person to person through sneezing and coughing. You will certainly know if you have the flu. Common symptoms include exhaustion, fever, coughing, muscle aches, runny nose, and chills. It can be hard to even move from the bed to the bathroom if you get the flu.

Elderly adults and young children are at risk of complications including pneumonia, croup, and myocarditis (inflamed heart tissue.) Typically, the flu causes more than 148,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths every year.

The vaccine is 90% effective in healthy adults and 70% effective for the elderly and children. Those with ailments or conditions will find the vaccination is between 50 and 70% effective.

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