Governor McCrory Urges North Carolinians ​to Protect Themselves During Flu Season | Eastern NC Now

    Raleigh, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory urges all North Carolinians to protect themselves from the flu by receiving a vaccine and taking other precautions to protect against the spread of the virus.

    "The flu can be serious illness, but thankfully, it can be prevented," Governor McCrory said. "Receiving a vaccine is best way to protect yourself and your family from contracting the flu."

    ​The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends yearly vaccination against the flu for everyone 6 months and older.


    ​According to studies cited by the CDC there are several benefits from vaccination, including the following:

• Protecting people who are at greater risk of getting seriously ill from flu, like older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions (including obesity) and young children.
• Making illness milder if you do get sick and reducing the risk of more serious outcomes, like hospitalizations and deaths.
• Protecting women during pregnancy and protecting their babies until they are old enough to get vaccinated themselves.
• The flu can be especially serious for for adults over 65, children under five, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

    In addition to vaccination, there are other precautions to protect against the spread of flu and other viruses:

• Wash hands frequently, preferably with soap and water or an approved hand sanitizer
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the tissue promptly
• If you are sick with flu, stay home until you have been fever free for at least 24 hours.

    For more information on the flu and to find out where you can get a flu vaccination in your community, visit http://www.flu.nc.gov/.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov