LSU Health New Orleans Flu Fair Vaccinates More Than 1,000

Of the 53 jurisdictions nationally, only four reported local flu activity for the week ending October 5. Louisiana was one of the four. And Louisiana was the only jurisdiction that reported moderate influenza-like illness activity.

The Annual Flu Fair at LSU Health New Orleans began that same week. Over the course of the four-day event, nursing students (under faculty supervision) vaccinated 1,300 faculty, staff and students. The event was co-sponsored by LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing led by Stephanie Pierce, PhD, MN, RN, CNE, Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing and Director of the CARE and Nurse Educator Programs, and LSU Healthcare Network, under the direction of Jeffrey Donaldson, Chief Operating Officer.

“There’s really no downside to getting the flu vaccine, only a huge upside for a disease that can be deadly,” says Dr. Fred Lopez, Professor of Medicine and an Infectious Diseases specialist at LSU Health New Orleans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccines for most people six months and older. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop an immune response. Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe influenza and their close contacts, including health care personnel and close contacts of children younger than six months.

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Though the flu vaccination is the single best way to prevent the flu, the CDC also recommends other protective steps. They include avoiding close contact with sick people; staying home when you are infected; covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; washing your hands often; avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth; disinfecting surfaces where the flu virus can live for hours; getting plenty of rest; managing your stress; being physically active; drinking plenty of fluids; and eating nutritious foods.