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Vaccination

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Flu Myths vs. Flu Facts

Does a flu shot cause the flu? Do healthy people need a shot? Here are the answers to some popular myths.

The flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family. However, misconceptions about vaccination persist. Here are 7 common myths about vaccination. Flu Myth #1 A Flu Shot Causes the Flu No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. The influenza viruses contained in a flu shot are inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the vaccine during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu vaccine are tested to make sure they are safe. In randomized, blinded studies, where some people get flu shots and others get salt-water shots, the only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who got the …

In this Article:

Flu Patients Continue to Fill Doctors' Offices and CDC Officially Declares Flu Outbreak an Epidemic

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Flu Patients Continue to Fill Doctors' Offices

A Kaiser Permanente physician said 15 to 20 percent of his day is spent with flu patients.

This flu season is different than previous years because of the sheer volume of people who are getting sick, according to an ambulatory medicine physician. Dr. Richard Ellin, who works at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices in nearby Alpharetta, said in the past two or three years, he'd see the occasional flu patient, maybe one or two a week. "This year, we are seeing anywhere from three to six a day and that's just me," Dr. Ellin said. "Fifteen to 20 percent of my day is the flu or complications from the flu. "Another thing is, we are seeing many more people who have got the flu shot who have gotten the flu," he said. "It's prevalent throughout metro Atlanta, and really throughout Georgia, and really pretty much throughout the whole …

In this Article:

CDC Officially Declares Flu Outbreak an Epidemic and Where to Get Flu Shots in Cumming, Forsyth

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Liz Kennedy

4:42 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

Hi John, Glad to help! Liz Kennedy, Editor   more ›

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