Influenza is a serious viral infection that causes illness, hospitalizations and thousands of deaths every year in the U.S. Mayo Clinic recommends getting a vaccine each year to prevent illness and protect the people around you.
To learn more about influenza, the Mayo Clinic Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and its reference laboratory Mayo Medical Laboratories have developed "The ABCs of Influenza" flash cards. These flash cards include information about influenza symptoms, types of vaccines, who is more susceptible to illness, and other important facts.
"With some simple facts about influenza and an annual vaccine, individuals will be doing the most they can to reduce their chances of becoming ill from influenza," says Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. "Our new online flash cards explain from A to Z what a person needs to know about influenza.
"And, even though this influenza season is off to a slow start, everyone 6 months of age or older should still get the vaccine," adds Dr. Binnicker.
New influenza vaccine strategies aim to enhance protection with T-cell responses