


Should I call the doctor if I think I have the flu? This is not a substitute for the flu vaccine. Discuss this with your health care provider.Antiviral medications can sometimes be prescribed for patients who are currently not sick, but have had close contact with someone who tested positive for the flu recently.Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces including desks, phones and door knobs.Stay home if you’re not feeling well and avoid close contact with others who are ill.Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes with your hands.Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water is not accessible).Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing/sneezing.

Jamilah Alhashidi, primary care doctor with Beaumont Primary Care - Dearborn Heights, provides these additional preventative actions to help reduce the spread of the flu: Patients can contact their PCP, local pharmacy or health department to inquire about getting vaccinated.ĭr. There is a higher dose flu vaccine recommended for patients 65 years of age and older. Patients 65 years of age and older, infants and young children, pregnant women, patients with a weakened immune system and patients with certain chronic disease such as diabetes are at an increased risk for flu complications. Unless a patients doctor feels there are contraindications (special reasons for the patient not get the vaccine), all patients 6 months and older are advised to get a yearly flu vaccine to not only prevent influenza infections, but to also reduce risk of severe influenza infectionsĪnd hospitalizations. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu vaccine.
