Flu Prevention: A Count on Health Special Report

When it comes to either the seasonal flu or H1N1, experts agree that your best defense is a good offense in the form of prevention.

There are other lessons that health care providers and experts have learned over the years though, when it comes to trying to combat the flu.

Health experts prepare each year for the flu season, but this year was much different.

In addition to preparing for the seasonal flu, they are now also targeting the H1N1 virus.

Hospital officials say they monitor the situation daily to see if they need to make any adjustments in relation to patient care and safety.

“We look at our number of visits related to influenza, we look at our number of admissions related to influenza, and it guides us in what our actions are, whether or not we need to start restricting visitations, open up additional rooms, whether we need to seek alternate sites of care,“ said Michelle Dore, R.N. of McLeod Hospital.

Health experts say there are several main lessons that they’ve learned over the years, when it comes to battling the viruses, but perhaps the most important, deal with vaccinations.

Those who have received both the seasonal flu vaccine as well as the H1N1 vaccine, say they felt it was a necessary step to protect them from the viruses.

“I’m very concerned about catching some type of virus. I’ve already had my annual flu shot and since I have a respiratory problem, I wanted to be extra sure that I was covered,“ said Janice Pearson, who received both the seasonal flu shot as well as the H1N1 vaccination.

Experts say early vaccinations, knowing the side effects of vaccines, and controlling those vaccines at a local level are very important when it comes to battling the spread of both seasonal flu and H1N1.

The other lessons include preparing for possible outbreaks and closures in schools, and working on a universal vaccine.

Perhaps this year, those lessons are more important than ever.

H1N1 is targeting a younger population, and for the first time in many years, the Department of Health and Environmental Control is going into schools to vaccinate children.

“It’s gonna be an experience…we have not been in the school setting to give vaccines in quite a while. We’re talking about trying to cover as many of the elementary schools as we can between now and Christmas break…so we’ll just wait to see what we learn,“ said Ann Austin, DHEC Regional Epidemiologist.

Health experts say prevention and vaccinations are the best defense against the flu, but they also say despite all their best efforts, the viruses will continue to spread.

“Pandemics usually last anywhere from 12 months to 18 months so what we’re talking about is, we will see more cases to continue through this next year,“ Austin said.

Medical experts say you can follow basic preventive tips like hand washing, social distancing and vaccinations to help keep your family healthy.

But they also say that they’re continuing to learn new lessons everyday when it comes to fighting seasonal flu and preventing the spread of H1N1.

There is now additional help in South Carolina, just by dialing 2-1-1.

The United Way call center is free to use and representatives can answer any questions you have about the H1N1 flu.

From what it is, to the signs and symptoms and whether you should see a doctor or visit the hospital if you think you are sick.

The phone bank is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Your calls are confidential.

The 2-1-1 call center can help with a variety of things, not just the H1N1 flu.

They will help you with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more.

For more information on the United Way’s 2-1-1 service, call the number or visit http://www.211.org/

For more information on flu symptoms as well as information on clinics, visit DHEC’s flu page at http://www.scdhec.gov/flu/