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When it comes to getting a flu shot, where do

you stand?

I plan

to get a flu shot this year.

I do not plan

to get a flu shot this year.

I’m not sure

if I will get a flu shot this year.

If you’re not planning to get a flu shot, what

would it take to change your mind? Do you

have the correct information to make an

informed choice? Check your flu facts with

our true/false quiz:

1. True or false:

Getting the flu shot can give

you the flu.

2. True or false:

The flu shot is recommended

each year for all people ages 6 months and older.

3. True or false:

If you had a flu shot last year, you

don’t need another one this year.

The answer to No. 1 is

false

. The flu shot cannot

give you the flu. This is only a myth. Some people

may have mild side effects from the vaccine such

as low-grade fever, aches or soreness, redness or

swelling where the shot was given.

A+ for parenting!

Get teen exams

Health exams are not just for young kids.

Preteens, teens and college students all need

checkups and the vaccines that are part of

those yearly exams. Since some vaccines

that children get when they’re young can

wear off, they may need booster shots (extra

doses) as they get older to stay protected from

certain diseases.

There also are certain vaccines made just for

preteens and teens. Your teen’s

doctor can tell you which

vaccines are right for your

older child. Call to schedule a

yearly checkup for your teen. It’s

the best way you can make the

grade as a parent and give your

teen a healthy start as an adult.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

website: aap.org

Share for better care

When you see a specialist or go to the

emergency room, are you telling your main

or primary doctor? Make sure your doctors

and specialists all know about all the care

you get. It helps the doctors, so you don’t

have to go through the same tests twice.

That saves time and money. It also helps to

make sure you have the best outcome for

your health concern. You play a big role in

making sure you get the right care for any

problems you have.

Be sure to:

Share the names of each of your

providers with all doctors who give

you care.

Tell all your doctors when you are

prescribed medicine from a provider.

Tell them if you are hospitalized or see

a specialist.

Sign a consent form to release medical

records so your information can be

shared by different providers.

It’s key to share for better care.

Shots to stop childhood diseases

What all parents need to know: childhood shots

Some childhood diseases used to be

common and caused severe sickness or even

sometimes death. There are shots that help

stop some of these childhood diseases, so

now many of these diseases are rare. The

shots are called immunizations or vaccines.

The childhood diseases that can be stopped

by these shots include measles, mumps,

chickenpox, tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria and

other conditions. Getting shots at the right

time and at the right age is the best way to

keep not only your child healthy but also your

child’s family and friends.

To see a list of shots your child should get and

when, go to

UniCare.com

.

Click on

Medicaid

at the top of

the screen.

In the

Select a State

menu, choose

West

Virginia

. Click on the orange

Enter

button.

Choose

Preventive Health Guidelines

.

More information and tips about how

shots that avoid sickness work can

be found on the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention website at

CDC.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html

.

Is the flu shot

for you?

The answer to No. 2 is

true

. The Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention does recommend

a yearly flu shot for everyone ages 6 months and

older. Even if you’re healthy, without the vaccine,

you can still get the flu or pass it on to friends,

family and co-workers.

The answer to No. 3 is

false

. The flu shot is only

good for one year. That’s because each year the

vaccine may target different strains of the virus.

If you have questions about the flu vaccine or

where to go to get it, please call your primary care

provider (PCP) or the Member Services number

listed on your member ID card. You can also go

online to

CDC.gov/flu

.

Source: CDC.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

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