For Starters - Get Your Vaccinations NOW!

Dr. Allen Perkins, professor and chair of family medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently interviewed by WALA FOX 10 about the flu and what people can do to stay healthy.

Here’s a summary of his advice:

• Most important – get BOTH your H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccination now (you can get both at the same time).
• Wash your hands to avoid contracting the flu and sharing germs with others.
• If you are sick, stay at home and rest. Going to work or school while sick exposes others to the flu.
• Most people do not need to seek medical care. Rest, drink lots of fluids and treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medications for fever, coughs and runny noses.

If your symptoms go beyond aches and fever and you are having trouble breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

Dr. Perkins stresses that parents should never give aspirin to their children - rather use acetaminophen (trade name Tylenol) or ibuprofen (trade name Motrin). Aspirin is associated with Reye’s Syndrome, a fatal disease.

To watch Dr. Perkins interview, click this link - http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/doctors-advice-get-vaccinated .