On the hundred year anniversary of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, flu prevention is top of mind. With the close quarters of the holidays at hand, it’s important to protect yourself and your loved ones from contracting the flu.
Each season’s vaccine is based on an educated guess of the four most likely strains of flu to hit that season. As the predictions are made six months ahead of time to allow for vaccine creation and distribution, it sometimes misses the mark. Viruses mutate, but the vaccine is the best first defense against flu.
Flu tends to come on quickly, prompting a feeling of fatigue and achy muscles. Recommendation is for anyone over six months to have the vaccine. Individuals with weakened immune systems should consult with their physician before getting a shot.
Listen as Dr. Richard Webby joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the importance of the flu vaccine.
Controlling the Spread of Flu
Protect yourself and loved ones from the flu.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 1
- Audio File: lifes_too_short/ts84.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Richard Webby, PhD
- Guest Website: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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Guest Bio:
Richard Webby, PhD, is a member of the Infectious Diseases department at St. Jude. He began his career in New Zealand, where he earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees. He joined St. Jude in 1999, and in 2008, he was named director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza Viruses in Lower Animals and Birds at St. Jude.
His research focuses on the understanding and reduction of the impact of influenza viruses that jump from animals to humans. He is also interested in the production of vaccine viruses, reagents, and technology that facilitates the rapid characterization of emerging viruses.
Dr. Webby is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Center of Excellence in Influenza Research and Surveillance, one of five such centers in the world. In 2010, he received a Special Recognition Award from NIAID for his work during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
- Length (mins): 13:43
- Waiver Received: No
- Host: Melanie Cole, MS
Published in
Life's Too Short
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