Facts about the flu

Even though we have passed through the usual seasonal flu season, the H1N1 (swine) flu is still making people sick in many parts of the country. Here's how you can protect yourself and your family from the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu, and what you can do if you get sick

How can I prevent the flu?
Watch what real germ experts – kids – have to say! On this fun video, kids give advice as only kids can.

Check out more practical tips to protect yourself from the flu.

You can print one of these flyers to share at work, school or in your community:

• Tips to prevent H1N1 infection and stay healthy (English)  (PDF)
• Health Tips: What You Can Do: Spanish   (PDF)

Take a few minutes to walk through our quick online lesson.  

And of course, vaccines can help prevent the flu.

What vaccines are available?
There are two types of flu vaccines:

• The seasonal flu shot or nasal spray, which you should get every year
• The new H1N1 flu shot or nasal spray

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises people to get both vaccines this year. Certain people also should get the pneumonia vaccine, according to the CDC.

Who should get the vaccines?
Seasonal flu vaccine 
You can reduce your chances of getting sick with the flu or spreading it to others. Some groups of people especially should get the vaccine:

• Children ages 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People age 50 years and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu. This includes:
  
  • Health care workers
  • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
  • Household contacts and caregivers of children under 5 years of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children under 6 months of age (these children are at higher risk of flu-related complications

H1N1 vaccine
Groups at high risk of getting H1N1 flu should get the vaccine first. These include:

• Pregnant women
• Parents and caregivers of infants under 6 months old
• People 6 months to 24 years
• Health care workers/emergency personnel
• People ages 25 through 64 years with certain chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

Healthy adults ages 25 through 64 should get the H1N1 vaccine next. The final group to get the vaccine should be people over age 65, the CDC says.

Pneumonia vaccine
The CDC recommends that the following people get the pneumonia vaccine:

• Children under the age of 5 years
• People ages 2 to 64 with high-risk conditions
• Everyone 65 and older
  

Where can I get the vaccines?
Seasonal flu vaccine
Seasonal flu shots and the nasal spray are here now. Check with your doctor, or watch for notices in your community, at pharmacies and retail clinics, or from your employer about where you can get yours. You can also find a location under “Find a Flu Shot” on DocFind.

H1N1 vaccine
Check with your doctor and local or state health departments about when and where you can get the H1N1 flu vaccine in your area. We also have information on DocFind about flu shot clinics that may have the H1N1 vaccine. And you can use this Flu Shot Locator to find a place in your area that offers the vaccine.

Pneumonia vaccine
Most people get the pneumonia vaccine from their doctor. You may be able to get the vaccine at other locations.

Will Aetna cover the vaccines?
We cover the seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines for members in plans with preventive benefits.

The federal government is providing the H1N1 flu vaccine at no cost. Because of concerns about a pandemic, we will pay health care professionals such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists to administer the H1N1 flu vaccine to all members at no cost unless the employer asks us not to provide the benefit.

Sometimes a doctor might bill for an office visit, too. If that happens, the member is responsible for co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles associated with the office visit.
 

What should I do if I have flu symptoms?
Most often, the H1N1 flu should not be serious. If you become ill with flulike symptoms the CDC says recommends that you stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to get medical care or other necessities. Flulike symptoms include fever, muscle aches, chills, cough, sore throat, fatigue and headache.  In H1N1 flu can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

When should you treat your flu at home, and when should you call your doctor or seek care right away? Check out the H1N1 Self-Evaluation Tool from the Department of Health and Human Services. The tool gives recommendations based on how you say you are feeling.

The CDC recommends that you call or see a doctor or nurse if you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications due to any of these conditions:

• Asthma or other lung problems
• Diabetes
• Weakened immune systems
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Neurological and neuromuscular disorders
• Pregnancy

Young children are also at greater risk for flu complications. If you can’t get to your doctor or don’t have a primary care doctor, find an urgent care center on DocFind.

When do I need to go to the emergency room?
According to the CDC, seek emergency medical care if you become ill and have any of these warning signs.

For children:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing 
• Bluish skin color 
• Not drinking enough fluids 
• Not waking up or not interacting 
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held 
• Flulike symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough 
• Fever with a rash

For adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
  

How do I take care of myself or a family member?

• What to do if you get sick
• Taking care of a sick person in your home 

• www.flu.gov
• Information for employers
• Information for health care professionals 
• Information for pharmacies and mass vaccinators outside Aetna’s network: How to bill Aetna for administering the H1N1 flu vaccine