Time to get your Flu Vaccine

It’s flu season in Dubai, and if you haven’t gotten your flu vaccine yet, you’re officially in the danger zone!

Influenza will make you miserable, but it can also pose serious health risks, especially to the very young and people over 65, as well as to pregnant women and anyone with a chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. That’s because for those vulnerable groups, complications such as bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and dehydration. It can also make chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure or diabetes, worse. Symptoms of the flu include:

• runny or “stuffy” nose
• fever and chills
• cough
• sore throat (sometime severe)
• body aches
• headaches
• extreme fatigue

The best way to prevent the flu is to get an annual flu shot, which is formulated to immunize people from whatever type of influenza virus is expected for that season.  Obviously, it’s also a good idea to follow common sense rules such as avoiding people who are sick and washing your hands frequently throughout the day to help prevent the spread of germs. Avoidance isn’t foolproof, however, since people who have the flu are contagious even before the onset of symptoms!

OCP Medical Center in Dubai has this year’s vaccine available, and we recommend that you get your shot as soon as possible to lower your risk. Flu season started in September and will run until March, so the sooner you protect yourself, the less chance you have of catching the flu and being subjected to weeks of misery.

Don’t delay — Contact us to schedule your appointment as soon as possible!