The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend annual influenza vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older.
Advertisement
Susan Laverack, of the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health, said the flu season peaks in January and February each year.
Nationally, 2,459 people have tested positive for the flu, and most states were reporting a mild season so far.
Dr. Martinello said, “It is hard to predict exactly which strains of flu will be circulating during any given year”.
Although this year’s vaccine is matching the most common strains so far, there have been so few cases of flu to date it is hard to say which virus will dominate this season, said Michael L. Jackson, an associate scientific investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle.
With the flu season just ramping up, it’s hard to gauge how effective this year’s vaccines will be, but as always, the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit is encouraging residents to get the shot.
“We still have plenty of vaccine and there is still plenty of flu season left, so we are still encouraging you to come out and get immunized”, explains Oda. About 125,000 influenza cases were reported nationally last season, 4,233 of them in Maine.
As many of us know the pesky flu can affect everyone.
Also bear in mind that it takes seven to 10 days for full immunity to kick in after you get vaccinated.
“So even now it’s not too late to get the vaccine”, Yaremko says.
“Despite the fact that the vaccine doesn’t work every time, it is still the best way to protect yourself against flu bar none”, Bresee said. “So getting vaccinated is still the best thing you can do to help prevent yourself from getting the flu”.
Advertisement
People over 65, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease are at higher risk for developing serious complications from the flu.
