Schedules are getting filled with Thanksgiving plans, shoppinglists and holiday visits. While making plans to gather withrelatives has captured most people’s attention these days, holidaytravelers might want to take a step back and concentrate on theirhealth.

Kim Bridge, King’s Daughters Medical Center community educationcoordinator, says the holiday season is not the only time of yearright now.

“It’s just the typical flu season right now, nothing out of theordinary as of yet,” said Bridge. “Of course the weather has stillbeen warm.”

Bridge said the flu season began in September and typically lastsuntil April or May, which he added is why now is the best time toget the flu shot.

“Now is the exact time to wind up getting it,” said Bridge. “We tryhitting in the peak times.”

Bridge said the flu shot he is administering contains three strandsof the virus, H1N1, Type A Victoria and Type B Brisbane. He alsoadded that there is plenty of the flu shot to go around, unlike theyear before when the shot became unavailable due to the shift infocus to H1N1.

Bridge mentioned most people will shy away from the flu shotbecause they think they will acquire the virus through thevaccination.

“The shot is a dead virus, it cannot give you the flu,” saidBridge. “If I give somebody a flu shot today and the day aftertomorrow they have the flu, they’ve already been exposed.”

Bridge also added that the shot, while effective, is not afool-proof plan.

“We only shoot for three of the most prominent strains,” saidBridge. “There are over 100.”

Bridge’s tips for avoiding the flu include hand-washing, coveringcoughs and sneezing in your sleeve – not in your hands.

“The number one spread of most infections is dirty hands,” saidBridge.

Bridge added that the average person touches their face, hands,eyes, nose or mouth about 300 times a day, which are all greatentry points for the infection.

Bridge said the flu is most prone to attack now because the coldweather weakens people’s resistance to infections and brings peopleinside more.

“The more people are confined and hacking on one another, the moreflu we see,” said Bridge.

Bridge said the flu is not to be mistaken for the common cold. Hementioned that the flu will often incorporate a fever and will makemost people not functional.

“You don’t think you have the flu, you’ll know you have it,” saidBridge. “Joints that you never thought you had will hurt.”

Bridge said those who do not typically get vaccinated usually havea change of heart if they find themselves stuck in bed during theholidays.

“If you ever get it, you’ll do whatever you can do to get your flushot,” joked Bridge. “You’re not just not being able to function,you’re missing work and paychecks.”