{"id":6956,"date":"2023-09-22T14:08:13","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T14:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/?post_type=brief_articles&#038;p=6956"},"modified":"2023-09-25T20:55:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T20:55:53","slug":"3q-2023-flu","status":"publish","type":"brief_articles","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/brief_articles\/3q-2023-flu\/","title":{"rendered":"3Q 2023 Flu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Flu season is as predictable as any major holiday and leaves millions in its wake. The CDC estimates in 2022-23<sup>1<\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>27-54 million Americans caught the flu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As many as 600,000 individuals were hospitalized with the flu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As many as 58,000 individuals died of the flu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Help your employees from falling victim to the flu this year by encouraging them to get the flu vaccine and reminding them this virus is smart. We\u2019ve made it easy with these resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\">\n<li>Share the article below, \u201cOutsmart the flu \u2013 Get vaxxed!\u201d Simply cut and paste it into an employee email or add it to your intranet site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Host a flu vaccine clinic. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/Blue-KC-Flu-Shot-Vendor-Information-2023-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flu Shot Vendor Information<\/a> flyer has contact information for local vendors that provide on-site flu shot clinics.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have questions, please contact your Blue KC representative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><sup>1 <\/sup>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022-2023 U.S. Flu Season: Preliminary In-Season Burden Estimates. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/about\/burden\/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/about\/burden\/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Outsmart the flu \u2013 Get vaxxed!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The flu is a sneaky character. It can invade your body undetected, mask itself from the immune system, and keep up its charade until \u2026 you feel that tickle in the back of your throat and those body aches that aren\u2019t from yesterday\u2019s workout. Fast forward a few hours and you also may develop: Fever \u2013 Chills \u2013 Cough \u2013 Sore Throat \u2013 Runny or Stuffy Nose \u2013 Headache \u2013 Fatigue \u2013 Vomiting or Diarrhea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Protect yourself from the flu for $0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to the flu, don\u2019t risk it. Get the flu vaccine! Blue KC health plans cover the cost of the vaccine 100% when it\u2019s administered by an in-network provider, such as your primary care provider (PCP) or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/consumer\/wtg\/retail-health-clinic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">retail health clinic<\/a>. Blue KC members can find an in-network provider at <a href=\"https:\/\/member.bluekc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MyBlueKC.com<\/a> and click Find Care in the left column. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting October 2, Spira Care Centers also will offer walk-in and drive-up* flu shot clinics. If you\u2019re a Blue KC member with exclusive access to Spira Care Centers, look for more information from Spira Care soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Get to know the enemy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You may know some of the flu\u2019s personality traits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It spreads before you have symptoms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can come on suddenly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It infects up to 11% of the U.S. population a year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its powers are significantly reduced by the flu vaccine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But here are a few you may not know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu spreads easier than you may think<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember those aerosols we were introduced to during Covid? Turns out, they\u2019re responsible for spreading the flu, too. People with the flu generate infectious, tiny droplets that stay suspended in the air. By simply breathing, not to mention sneezing and coughing, a sick person is spreading the flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu puts older adults and people with heart and lung disease at greater risk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unvaccinated individuals 65 and older and people with chronic conditions are at a greater risk of flu complications. Conditions include but are not limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lung disease \u2013 People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at a greater risk of being hospitalized with flu complications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heart disease \u2013 People with conditions like congestive heart failure may have up to a six-time higher risk of having a heart attack within a week of a confirmed flu infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu and mucus are like oil and water<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one likes to think about mucus. But here\u2019s a game changer. The mucus in your nose \u2013 where the flu virus typically invades \u2013 contains antibodies called IgAs, which can protect you from the flu.<sup>1<\/sup> Most effective when it\u2019s wet, mucus is at its healthiest when you\u2019re hydrated. So, drink up this flu season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><sup>1<\/sup>Mucus, Our Body\u2019s Silent Defender. UNC Healthcare. <a href=\"https:\/\/healthtalk.unchealthcare.org\/mucus-our-bodys-silent-defender\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/healthtalk.unchealthcare.org\/mucus-our-bodys-silent-defender\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu lingers like a bad perfume<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the flu virus moves into your house, it\u2019s there to stay for a while. It has a 48-hour life span on hard, nonporous surfaces and a 12-hour life span on surfaces like clothes and tissues. Your best defense: wash or sanitize all surfaces that come in contact with an infected person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu shuns vitamin C<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The notion that vitamin C will protect you from the flu is a myth rooted in the 1970s. However, taken in large doses, vitamin C may help reduce the flu\u2019s duration and symptoms. And it can help boost your immune system to fight infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu likes Fido<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dog and other pets can catch their own strain of the flu that is species specific. Although there\u2019s no chance of infection between you and your furry friend, your pet may have symptoms similar to humans \u2013 sneezing, coughing, and fatigue \u2013 so be on alert during flu season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>It\u2019s prime time for the flu vax<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>September and October are prime time to get your $0 flu vaccine. Get your shot from your PCP, an in-network retail health clinic*, or a Spira Care Center (if you&#8217;re a Blue KC member with exclusive access to Spira Care)**.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">*Walk-in clinics will be at all <a href=\"https:\/\/spiracare.com\/care-centers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spira Care locations<\/a>. Drive-up clinics will be at Tiffany Springs, Crossroads, and Olathe Spira Care locations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">**Visit Find Care on your Blue KC member portal at <a href=\"https:\/\/member.bluekc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MyBlueKC.com<\/a> to locate a PCP or in-network retail clinic near you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6817,"template":"","the_brief_categories":[34,33],"brief_tag":[36],"class_list":["post-6956","brief_articles","type-brief_articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","the_brief_categories-employee-resources","the_brief_categories-employer-resources","brief_tag-where-to-g0"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>3Q 2023 Flu - The Blueprint Blog - Blue KC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3Q 2023 Flu - The Blueprint Blog - Blue KC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Flu season is as predictable as any major holiday and leaves millions in its wake. 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