1. Fighting The Flu
OCTOBER 2016 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM | An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today
A mother
opens up about the
tragic loss of her son
and urges annual flu
shots for all.
DISCOVER
the biggest myths
about the flu
vaccine, and why it’s
still your best shot at
fighting the illness
BROWSE
more stories online
and quiz yourself
on where germs are
lurking throughout
your workplace

2. Immunize Your Space
Discover the best ways
to properly flu-proof your
home to keep your family
healthy this season.
Page 4
Raising Awareness
The American Lung
Association explains the
dangers of the flu and what
you can do to fight it.
Page 8
Ask the Experts
Check out some more
tips on the best flu season
practices from health and
hygiene professionals.
Online
2 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM | IN THIS ISSUE MEDIAPLANET
Getting the Facts
for Flu SeasonAs cold weather descends, so does flu season. Here’s what you should know about
the risks and latest breakthroughs in prevention.
O
ctober is almost
over, which means
the holidays are
rapidly approach-
ing. I always look
forward to the holidays because it
gives me more time to spend with
family and friends.
Unfortunately, the holidays also
mean that flu season is at our door-
step, threatening to disrupt holiday
reunions. That’s why I’m encour-
aging you to help protect everyone
you’ll see over the holidays by mak-
ing sure you and your family get
your flu vaccine.
Knowing the risks
Flu can cause serious illness in peo-
ple of all ages, but some people are
more vulnerable to serious illness
from flu. Pregnant women, chil-
dren younger than 5 years, people
65 and older, and people with cer-
tain chronic conditions like diabe-
tes, heart disease, and asthma are
more likely to become seriously ill
from the flu.
Everyone ages six months and
older should get a flu vaccine every
year. A flu vaccine is the best way
to reduce your chances of getting
and spreading the flu.While you’re
planning to get your flu shot, there
are a few important changes to
keep in mind this flu season.
The Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevetion recommends
only injectable flu vaccines (or flu
shots) this season and is not recom-
mending nasal spray flu vaccines
because of concerns about how well
Flu can cause
serious illness
in people of all
ages...
it works. This is an unfortunate
setback because it offered an alter-
native to painful shots. As a parent
of kids who don’t like getting shots,
I was disappointed to hear that the
nasal spray vaccine wasn’t working
well. But I also know I would much
rather my children get vaccinated
properly than get the flu.
New developments
This past flu season, we saw a drop
in the number of older adults get-
ting their flu vaccine. As a physi-
cian, this drop is particularly con-
cerning to me. While flu seasons
can vary in severity, people 65 years
and older typically bear the greatest
burden of severe flu illness because
people’s immune systems become
weaker with age.
Fortunately, there are vaccines
specifically for older adults to give
them added protection against
seasonal flu.
This flu season, manufacturers
are introducing the first adju-
vanted flu vaccine marketed in the
United States. An adjuvant is an
ingredient added to a vaccine that
helps create a stronger immune
response to vaccination. There is
also a high-dose vaccine option,
which contains four-times the
amount of antigen (the part of the
vaccine that helps your body build
up protection against flu viruses)
as standard flu shots.
As we prepare for increased flu
activity, I encourage people of all
ages to join the fight against flu by
getting their flu shot. n
Email content inquires to editorial@mediaplanet.com Please recycle after readingKeep your feed fresh. Follow us @mediaplanetusa
Nancy Messonnier, M.D.
Director, National Center
for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases (CDC)
Publishers Joelle Hernandez Mary Reid Business Developer Jessica Guggenheimer Managing Director Luciana Olson Content and Production Manager Chad Hensley Senior Designer Kathleen Edison Designer Natasha Jiwa Copy
Editor Dash Lunde Production Coordinator Tiffany Kim Contributors Faye Brookman, Kristen Castillo, Joanna Colbourne, Serese Marotta, Nancy Messonnier, Deepika Polineni, Adam Sass, Sara Stickler Cover Photo Serese
Marotta All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

3. Hope can be more contagious than the flu. In honor
of all the Rite Aid customers who protect themselves
with a flu shot, The Rite Aid Foundation is donating
OVER $1.8 MILLION DOLLARS to more than 350
KidCents charities that are committed to the health and
well-being of children
in our communities.
SPREAD
NOTTHE FLU.
GET YOUR FLU SHOT*
AT RITE AID TODAY.
IT’S FREE WITH MOST INSURANCE AND NO APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY.
*Some limitations may apply. See pharmacists for details.

4. 4 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM | TIPS AND TRICKS MEDIAPLANET
Follow these four tips to help
keep your family healthy this
cold and flu season.
We would all like to avoid the
often unpleasant and sometimes
dangerous symptoms of the flu.
Vaccination can help, but here are
some extra precautions you can
take to prevent the illness from
spreading in your home:
1. Pick the right product
Household products are effective
tools for eliminating cold and flu
causing viruses. It’s important
By Sara Stickler, Executive Director,
Alliance for Consumer Education
to pick the right product for the
right area of your home.
In eliminating cold and flu
viruses, you will want to use
a disinfectant product. Disin-
fectants are regulated by the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and are proven effective.
Read the label to ensure the prod-
uctkillscold andfluviruses.Follow
theuseinstructionsontheproduct
to disinfect hard surfaces in your
home (i.e. counters, door knobs,
bathrooms, sinks) and eliminate
most cold and flu-causing viruses.
2. Let your cleaner work
All disinfectants require con-
tact time to work effectively.
You can find this on the label of
the product. Disinfectants may
require up to 10 minutes to work
effectively. Immediately wiping
away a product after use does not
effectively eliminate cold and flu
viruses. You can also check the
label to make sure your product
kills the cold and flu viruses.
3. Wash your hands
Use soap and water to wash away
germs. It’s important to wash
your hands for at least 20 sec-
onds. Always wash your hands
before eating, before and after
caring for someone who is sick,
after using the bathroom, and
after coughing or sneezing. Don’t
touch your face with dirty hands.
Use an alcohol-based hand-san-
itizer when you can’t wash your
hands to help eliminate bacteria.
4. Practice good habits
Never use your hands when
coughing or sneezing. Use a
tissue, or if you don’t have one,
cough or sneeze into your sleeve
or elbow. Teach your children
this habit by using a spray bot-
tle filled with water. Show them
how far cold and flu viruses can
go by squirting the bottle. Then
show them how both a tissue and
your elbow stops the water. This
visual will be a reminder when
they cough or sneeze. n
Your Guide to a Cold
and Flu-Proof Home
All disinfectants
require contact time
to work effectively.

5. Save on supplies you need to keep your office healthy.
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T
he toughest part
about cold and
flu season is
how to stop the
viruses from cir-
culating through
your family. If your spouse or kids
get sick, it feels inevitable that
you’ve got a bug coming sooner or
later.Not necessarily.
The fastest way to good family
health can be found in 5 simple,
daily cleaning habits:
5 Steps to Cleaning up After the Flu
Keep the cold and flu bugs from jumping around your house and from
person to person with this simple cleaning ritual.
By Adam Sass
1. Get some new air
Throw open the windows and let
fresh air roll in. Open the blinds
and grab some Vitamin D. Light a
fresh-smelling candle, and you’re
starting your cleaning day on the
right foot.
2. Gather your arsenal
Disinfectant spray will be your
best friend during your germ bat-
tle. Some people are also partial
to disinfecting wipes which are
great, just make sure your clean-
ing products actually kill viruses.
Stock up on paper towels and
microfiber cloths — anything
that can be thrown away. Stay
away from reusable sponges.
3. Wash every day
During the sick days, everyone
should be using a different towel
each day. Near the end of the flu,
strip the bed, flip your mattress,
and wash your linens with hot
water. Pay extra care to pillow-
cases and face towels.
If you’ve got young kids, throw
washable toys like stuffed animals
in with the bedding to be cleaned.
Fornon-washabletoys,disinfector
scrubwith asteam-cleaning brush.
4. The bathroom needs
your attention
Scrubbing the bathroom sink
should be a priority — it’s the base
camp your home’s germs have
been using all week. Spray, scrub,
and disinfect the faucet, handles,
and bowl and then work on the
toilet seat and handle.
Keep all your toothbrushes
separate to avoid trouble. If your
sick loved one’s toothbrush is of
the inexpensive, disposable kind
— ditch it.
5. Disinfect big targets
Grab your disinfectant spray or
wipes and go to town on cold
and flu germs’ favorite home:
the surfaces you and your fam-
ily touch every day. Doorknobs,
light switches, and railings are
most common, especially the
ones close to the bedroom and
bathroom. Refrigerator door-
handles, kitchen drawer pulls,
and pesky germy wastebaskets
should be next.
Your kids have probably
been watching a lot of TV while
they’ve been laid up, so don’t for-
get to regularly sanitize remote
controls, laptop keyboards, and
phones.
Now you’re on your way to a
speedy recovery and a happy,
healthy home. n
HEALTH HACKS | MEDIAPLANET | 5

6. 6 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM | ADVOCACY MEDIAPLANET
F
lu season is right
around the corner,
and like other years,
we can’t predict
how severe it will
be. Unlike the common cold,
influenza is a serious and highly
contagious disease that tends
to develop quickly, especially in
children. Every year in the U.S.,
approximately 20,000 children
under the age of five are hos-
pitalized, and on average, 100
children die due to the flu and its
complications.
Asamother,Iknowthedangers
of flu all toowell because I lost my
healthy,5-year-old son,Joseph,to
H1N1 flu in October 2009. Joseph
received his annual flu vacci-
nation in September, but H1N1
wasn’t in the vaccine that year.
A mysterious diagnosis
On Oct. 9, Joseph began vom-
iting and was very lethargic.
After calling our pediatrician,
we decided to take Joseph to the
local urgent care center. Upon
arrival, his blood oxygen levels
were low and he was immedi-
ately transported to the local
children’s hospital. That night,
he was initially diagnosed with
pneumonia and it wasn’t until
several days into his hospital
Some think the flu is just a bad cold, but a
personal tragedy taught me that influenza
is a disease that must be taken seriously.
By Serese Marotta, Chief Operating
Officer, Families Fighting Flu
stay that Joseph was diagnosed
with H1N1 flu. He was given
antibioticsforthepneumoniaand
antiviral medication for the flu.
Joseph spent the next nine
days in the hospital where his
condition was relatively stable.
However, on Oct. 17, Joseph’s
blood pressure plummeted and
we were sent back to the inten-
sive care unit. Joseph endured
a long night of x-rays, blood-
work, and other tests. The doc-
tors didn’t seem overly alarmed
about Joseph’s condition, but
they couldn’t figure out what was
causing his low blood pressure.
Tragedy strikes
On the morning of Oct. 18, I was
by Joseph’s bedside when he
suddenly coded. The doctors and
nurses worked feverishly to save
him, but tragically, my son lost
his life to the flu that day. Before
that, I had never heard of a child
dying from the flu, but sadly
since then I have met numerous
families who have suffered the
same tragedy.
I want everyone to understand
how critically important it is for
all children and their families to
get their flu vaccinations each
and every year.Getting an annual
flu vaccine is the best preventa-
tive measure we can take, and it’s
recommended for everyone six
months and older.We can all play
a part in the fight against influ-
enza because getting an annual
flu vaccination not only protects
you and your family, but it also
helps protect others in your com-
munity and limits the potential
for an outbreak. n
PHOTO:Seresemarotta
A Tragic Loss, and a Call
For Greater Flu Awareness

7. A recent survey from CVS Health1
found 2 in 5 (39%) say it takes
2+ trips/appointments to get the
family flu vaccinations.*
The Flu is
NO Fun
Remember: It’s Not ‘JUST’ the Flu – It’s a Serious Disease!
Get your flu vaccine to Stay in the Game
For more information visit: www.familiesfightingflu.org
or follow us on Twitter: @famfightflu
1. CVS Health. (2016, August 16). CVS Health Survey Reveals Two in Five Americans Make Multiple Trips
to get Entire Household Vaccinated against the Flu [Press release]. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
Family time is special time! But, if a family member has the flu, everyone is at risk of catching this
serious disease. Here’s how to Stay in the Game and not miss out on the fun because of the flu!
Know the
Facts
Have a Flu Game Plan
for Your Family
e
F
Practice Healthy
Habits
e Fluuuuluu
Flu is a highly-contagious
disease that easily spreads via
tiny droplets created when
someone coughs, sneezes, or talks.
Annual flu vaccination for
everyone 6 months of age and older
is the best way to protect
against the flu.
Getting your flu vaccination protects
you AND everyone around you, too!
Children are two to three times
more likely than adults to catch
flu because of less-developed
immune systems.
Nearly 100 children die due to
flu each year in the U.S.
80-85% of pediatric flu deaths are
in unvaccinated children, historically.
And don’t forget to:
• Wash hands often
• Stay home if you don’t feel well
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose,
or mouth - germs spread this way
Make annual flu vaccination
a FUN, family activity.
HERE’S HOW:
Get your family
vaccinated…TOGETHER
Afterwards, enjoy a family
activity,such as going to
the movies or to your
favorite restaurant.
#
1
#
2
Keep Your Family Healthy This Flu Season to
STAY IN THE GAME™
*Among survey responders who say that everyone
in their household gets vaccinated for the flu.

8. 8 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM | INSIGHT MEDIAPLANET
Words can be dan-
gerous — espe-
cially when those
words are “it’s
just the flu.” Influenza, or the flu,
is a potentially life-threatening
disease,which is contracted each
year by 5 to 20 percent of the U.S.
population, or 16 to 63 million
people.That’s a huge number,but
preventing the spread of the flu
really starts with just one person
– you. Now is the time for you to
getvaccinated,to protectyourself
and those you love.
A viral problem
Each year, influenza and its
related complications (including
pneumonia) result in approxi-
mately 226,000 hospitalizations.
Depending on virus severity,
deaths can range from 3,000 to
49,000 people. Flu season in the
U.S. can begin as early as October
and usually peaks around Janu-
ary or February.
Vaccination is the best way
to protect yourself and reduce
spread of the flu. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
recommends that everyone 6
months of age and older get an
annual influenza vaccination.
It's more than “just a bad cold.” Influenza is a
serious illness, and as we move through our
busy days, cross-contamination should be the
first thing on our minds.
By Deepika Polineni, M.D., Volunteer
Spokesperson, American Lung
Association
Why get vaccinated every year?
The influenza virus is constantly
changing, so each year, a new
vaccine is made based on which
strains of the virus are projected
to cause the most illness.
Doing your part
When you are immunized, you
not only protect yourself, but
you help protect those around
you by limiting the spread of the
disease. That means when you
get your flu shot,you are protect-
ing people who can’t, like babies
who are too young.
Vaccination is especially
important for pregnant women,
people 50 years of age and older,
and those with chronic health
conditions, including asthma
and COPD, as they are at a higher
risk of developing influenza-re-
lated complications. It’s also rec-
ommended that you get immu-
nized as soon as the vaccine is
available in your area, and not to
wait until later in the flu season.
We are all at risk for getting
and spreading the flu. Stopping it
begins with you. n
Fighting
the Flu
Starts
with You

9. You’ll do everything
to keep your family
healthy and well.
Kills 99.99% of germs
• Convenient resealable pocket pack fits easily in
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• Gentle formula infused with aloe keeps hands
moisturized and feeling soft
• Made with TENCEL® - soft, strong, earth-friendly fiber
Proven to remove 99% of peanut residue on hard surfaces*
*Source: “Evaluation of Reduction of Peanut Allergen Residue on Hard Surfaces”, Nice ‘n CLEAN Antibacterial Hand Wipes, June 2016.TENCEL® is a registered trademark of Lenzing A.G.
Here’s the first thing.
T
he endofsum-
mer signals
back to school,
but also more
time indoors
presenting greater expo-
sure to germs or allergens.
Proper hand hygiene is
the most effective step to
maintain wellness, accord-
ing to Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
That’s crucial with flu sea-
son approaching. When
you are away from home,be
prepared with convenient
options,such as wipes.
What makes wipes so
effective is they create fric-
tion to thoroughly remove
soil and bacteria. Many
consumers prefer wipes
over gels because they are
easy to use, provide the
right dosage and don’t
leave a sticky residue.
A clean slate
Using wipes on hands and
surfaces, even taking wipes
to school, is an important
part of personal and family
hygiene. “Teach children
about hygiene and what
theycandoforthemselves,”
advised Robert Julius, chief
executive officer of Nice-
Pak, the global wet wipe
leader devoted to helping
families stay healthy and
well “one wipe at a time.”
Beyond germs, Julius
warns about potentially
fatal exposure to food aller-
gens, which he knows first-
hand from his granddaugh-
ter’s diagnosis to peanut
allergies. In addition to kill-
ing 99.99 percent of germs
onhands,Nice-Pak’sNice‘n
CLEAN® Antibacterial Hand
Wipes remove 99 percent
of peanut residue from
hard surfaces. Available in
resealable 20-count pocket
packs, they fit easily into
backpacks and lunchboxes
to help protect your family
no matter where they are.
A growing epidemic
“The most recent avail-
able data indicates that as
many as one in 13 children
have a clinically signif
can’t food allergy — that’s
about two per classroom,”
explained Lois Witkop, the
chief advancement officer
for Food Allergy Research
and Education (FARE).
She recommends advance
planning and wiping down
surfaces to help prevent
contact reactions or inad-
vertent skin contact with
allergens.
As proud supporter of
FARE, Nice-Pak donates
a portion of the proceeds
from the wipes to help
raise awareness of food
allergies. n
sponsored
What You Need to Know About
Combating Flu and Food Allergens
By Faye Brookman
Practicing proper hand hygiene is the best defense against flu and food allergens
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE | MEDIAPLANET | 9

10. 10 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM | FACTS AND FIGURES MEDIAPLANET
The 5 Most Common Flu Myths Debunked
1
Influenzaisanuisance,
butnotdangerous.
Fact:Influenzaisa
highlycontagiousand
seriousinfectionthat
canbelife-threatening.
EachyearintheU.S.,
theflucancauseup
to49,000deathsand
morethan200,000
hospitalizations.
2
You don’t need a flu
vaccine every year.
Fact: Sinceinfluenza
virusesareconstantly
changingandbecause
thebody’simmune
responsefromvaccina-
tiondeclinesovertime,
itisimportanttoget
vaccinatedeveryyear.
Fluvaccinationisrecom-
mendedforeveryoneage
six months andolder.
As flu viruses begin to circulate each season, so do misconceptions about them.
Here are five of the most common flu myths debunked:
4
Flu vaccines can give
you the flu.
Fact: Afluvaccine
cannotcausefluillness.
Therearedifferentside
effectsthatmaybe
associatedwithgettinga
flushotwhichare
mildandshort-lasting,
andmayinclude
soreness,rednessor
swellingwheretheshot
was given.
3
I’m healthy, so I don’t
need a flu vaccine.
Fact: Even healthy peo-
ple can get sick enough
to be hospitalized or
even die from the flu.
In fact, each year, an
average of 20,000 chil-
dren age five years or
younger are hospital-
ized due to flu-related
complications — and
most are healthy.
5
If I don’t feel sick, I
can’t spread the flu.
Fact: Individuals
withthefluvirusmay
beabletoinfectothers
fromonedaybefore
gettingsicktofiveto
seven days after.
Tip
The first step to
preventing flu is getting
an annual fluvaccine
but individuals should
also follow everyday
preventive actions such
as good hand hygiene
and covering coughs
and sneezes.Ifyou do
get the flu,stay home
to avoid spreading
it to others and take
antiviral medications
if prescribed by a
healthcare professional.
By Joanna Colbourne, Director of Communications and Public Outreach, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

11. T
he flu shouldn’t be
taken lightly. It’s
important to take
the time to rest, get
better, and prevent
the spread of germs. Here are
some tips for a quick, comfort-
able, and safe recovery.
1. Have your toolkit
Keep tissues on hand to clean
up and cover your coughs and
sneezes. A heap of cozy blankets,
hot packs, or a hot water bottle
4 Steps for Quicker Flu Recovery
Think you’re about to battle the flu? Now’s the time to stock up on ammunition.
By Kristen Castillo
can help keep you warm. Make
sure you have a thermometer and
checkyourtemperatureregularly,
and keep contact information for
your doctor handy.
2. Hit the pharmacy
Stock up on non-prescription
medicines including pain reliev-
ers, decongestants, fever reduc-
ers, cough drops and anti-diar-
rheal medications. Vitamins and
supplements can also help. Vita-
min D can protect against the flu
and may help speed up recovery
time if you get sick. Omega-3 sup-
plements, as well as foods with
Omega-3, may protect the lungs.
Ginseng supplements may boost
immunity, helping the body heal
faster. Cough drops are great for
relieving a nagging cough or a
sore throat.
3. Stock your pantry
The probiotics inyogurt may help
settle an upset stomach. Bananas
are rich in vitamin B6 and mag-
nesium, both of which help you
fight fatigue and get strong.
Papayas, which have Vitamins C
and E, may reduce inflammation.
Make sure to stay hydrated with
water and hot teas. Chicken soup
tastes good and is good for you
but avoid salty soups, which can
dehydrate you.
4. Sanitize for safety
While washing up with soap and
water is best, health experts say
you can use an alcohol based
hand sanitizer,if needed.Look for
hand sanitizers with a minimum
of 60 percent alcohol, which are
the most effective against germs.
Stock up on household clean-
ers and paper towels so you can
clean surfaces around your home
including counters, door han-
dles and other areas that can get
contaminated with germs. Face-
masks can also be a good idea to
contain germs,especially ifyou or
someone in your family is at high
risk of flu complications. n
HEALTH HACKS | MEDIAPLANET | 11

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