Health department reveals purpose of "ask me" signs around the county

The secret to what all of those signs around the county stating "ask me" is finally out.

It's a campaign to bring awareness to the community about the importance of getting your annual flu shot, said Yanet Cisneros, health educator with the Rutherford Polk McDowell Health District.

"The purpose was to really get people to wonder what it was about," she said. "Signs were out around the county and also in front of agencies who could then educate people about the flu vaccine."

Signs were out for about two weeks, Cisneros continued, and the hope was that it would spur conversation.

"It's really about herd immunity," said Josh Kennedy, assistant health director. "The more people who get their flu vaccine, the more the transmission of the flu is lessened."

And less flu in the community means less time away from work or school, which is a win-win for everyone, he continued.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone who is 6 months of age and older to get their flu vaccine, particularly in the month of October," Cisneros said. "Flu season is typically from October through March, so timing of when you get the vaccine is important because it takes two weeks for the vaccine to start working in your body."

While a community-wide outbreak of flu hasn't happened in recent years, there has been at least one confirmed adult flu-related death in the county reported each year since 2013. Preventing flu from spreading is just one of the goals for the health district.

The campaign has also provided the health district a chance to dispel myths that surround the flu, including that the flu shot causes the flu or that cold weather is what causes a flu outbreak.

"It's not the cold weather, but rather being inside confined spaces where transmission can happen quickly," Kennedy said.

The flu shot is safe in most cases. Those who have egg allergies or who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a flu vaccine should not get a flu shot. Those who have had Guillain-Barre Syndrome should also avoid it.

Should you decide to opt out of getting a flu shot, there are still ways you can help protect yourself and others from getting sick this flu season.

"Frequent hand-washing or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands is one way," Kennedy said. "Coughing into your arm or a tissue and then throwing the tissue away is another."

And the most important way?

"If you're sick, stay home," Kennedy said.

Flu shots are available at the health department at a cost of $35 per shot. Pharmacies around the county as well as physician's offices will offer the shot as well.

For more information on preventing the flu or other health-related information, visit the Rutherford Polk McDowell Health District online at rpmhd.org.