Florida Flu Risk Goes Up as Seasonal Residents Come Down

Every fall, Florida’s flu season arrives with the arrival of Northern residents who escape the cold and snow in their Southern second homes. These Northerners stay in sunny Florida from the fall to the early spring. While they receive a warm welcome from Florida’s year-round residents, few consider that the hundreds of thousands of seasonal residents bring down much more than their T-shirts and may contribute to an increase in influenza outbreak.

MD Now wants both Florida and seasonal residents to be aware of this heightened health hazard and to take every precaution to protect themselves from the flu. And the best way to protect your health is to get a flu shot. Luckily, flu shots are available on a walk-in basis at all MD Now locations in Indian River, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. But it’s important to be aware that it takes two weeks for the flu vaccine to get into your system.

The Germ Concern

While it may still be warm and sunny throughout the Sunshine State, health experts warn that flu season is well underway. While influenza outbreaks are currently low throughout most of the state, that could change at any moment and Floridians could start suffering from uncomfortable flu symptoms. That’s why both permanent and temporary Florida residents must get a flu shot to protect themselves, especially since the threat of influenza is heightened by the arrival of these seasonal residents.

Why does the winter descent of Northerners raise Florida’s flu risk? Well, more people means many more germs. Now that hundreds of thousands of Northerners are heading to the state to enjoy the winter warmth, more germs are in the air and there’s a much greater chance for the flu to spread. Another factor that increases the risk of the flu is that seasonal residents tend to be older. And health experts say that the elderly, the young, and those who are pregnant are most susceptible to influenza. As a result, Florida’s flu season could be worse than expected.

But rather than worry that you’ll come down with flu symptoms, you can simply protect yourself with a flu shot. Each year, millions of people line up for the influenza vaccine. Why? Because they’d rather spend a moment protecting themselves from influenza than struggle with flu symptoms and have to find the right flu treatment. Simply put, your best shot for avoiding the flu is to go and get a flu shot.

How to Fight the Flu

Research has shown that flu shots are extremely effective at protecting you from the flu. And the fastest, easiest, and most convenient place to find the flu vaccine is at your nearest MD Now, where the influenza vaccine is available on a walk-in basis.

But it’s important to be aware that it takes two weeks for the flu vaccine to get into your system. And since you should take every precaution to avoid needing flu treatment during that two-week wait, here are some simple tips to protect yourself from the higher risk of the flu through this season:

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated
• Cough into your arm instead of using your hands.
• Wash your hands frequently, especially after exposure to others that are sick.
• Get a flu shot, which is available at MD Now on a fast and friendly, walk-in basis.