{"id":8,"date":"2026-10-11T00:07:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T11:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/getting-ready-for-flu-season\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T00:07:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T00:07:52","slug":"getting-ready-for-flu-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/getting-ready-for-flu-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting ready for flu season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flu viruses spread most in the colder months, and every season is a little different. A bit of planning in early autumn means you are not hunting for a thermometer or a pharmacy slot when someone at home falls ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ask about the flu vaccine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Health authorities such as the CDC recommend a yearly flu vaccine for most people aged six months and older. The vaccine is updated each season, so last year&#8217;s shot does not cover this year. It takes about two weeks after the vaccine for protection to build, which is why early autumn is a good time to get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether the vaccine is right for you, especially if you are pregnant, have a long-term condition, have had a reaction to a vaccine before, or are caring for a baby or an older relative. Many pharmacies give flu vaccines without an appointment, and many insurance plans cover them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyday habits that help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitiser when you are out.<\/li>\n\n<li>Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, then wash your hands.<\/li>\n\n<li>Stay at home when you are unwell, and keep children at home when they have a fever.<\/li>\n\n<li>Clean surfaces that many people touch, such as door handles and phones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check your medicine cabinet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take five minutes to look through your medicines before the season starts. Throw away anything past its expiry date (ask your pharmacy how to dispose of it safely), check that your thermometer works, and make sure you have enough of your regular prescriptions so you do not run out while you are ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are not sure which cold and flu products are suitable for you or your children, or whether they mix with medicines you already take, ask a pharmacist before you buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to get help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people recover from flu at home, but some need medical care. Call your doctor if your symptoms are getting worse or you are in a higher-risk group. If someone has difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion or other severe symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about your own situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A few simple steps in early autumn help your household get through the flu season: the vaccine, everyday habits and a quick check of your medicine cabinet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":18,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35,"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions\/35"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/block.ltheme.com\/lt-pharmly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}