Flu prevention starts with you

When it comes to the flu, there’s no better way to defend yourself, your family, and your community than by getting a flu shot.

The benefits of the flu shot

Each year, millions of people — around 8% of the U.S. population — become sick with the flu.¹ The flu shot can help:

• Keep you healthy. In recent years, the flu shot has helped prevent:²
  • 7.5 million illnesses.
  • 3.7 million medical visits.
  • 105,000 hospitalizations.
  • 6,300 deaths.
• Prevent complications in people with chronic conditions. The flu vaccine can reduce hospitalizations for people with diabetes and chronic lung conditions, and help lower the rate of cardiac events.²
• Reduce how sick you become. A flu shot can decrease your risk of getting the flu by as much as 60%, and will help reduce the severity of the virus if you do become ill.²
• Protect the people around you, including those who are at a higher risk for illness, such as babies, young children, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions.

Prevention³

While a flu shot is the best prevention against the flu, here are additional tips for staying healthy during flu season:

• Clean shared, high-touch surfaces. Wipe down items such as telephones, keyboards, steering wheels, and doorknobs often.
• Avoid close contact with those who are sick. If you are sick, be sure to limit your contact with others.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water and use a tissue to cover your sneeze or cough when possible.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. This is the easiest way for germs to spread.

Be protected this flu season

Visit our unicaremass.com to find a doctor or pharmacy near you that offers the flu shot. Then, call ahead or visit their website for details

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Keyfactsabout influenza (flu) (September 13, 2019): cdc.gov. 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Misconceptionsabout seasonal fluandfluvaccines (June 1, 2021): cdc.gov. 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventive Steps (June 8, 2021): cdc.gov.