Flu season to begin soon, health experts recommend getting vaccinated
Although there’s reason to be optimistic that flu vaccines will offer more protection this year, the authors of the CDC report stressed that “it is not possible” to predict which flu strains will circulate most widely this fall and winter, nor how well the vaccine will fight against them.
Vaccine producers expect that more than 170 million doses of this year’s flu vaccine will be available.
Between 5% and 20% of USA residents get the flu each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
“It is very important for everyone to get a flu shot each year because the virus is changing all of the time”, said Dr. McKenna.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 25,000 people die each year in the United States due to influenza. But because influenza as a cause of death often goes undiagnosed, the real number is likely much higher, Frieden said. Last year’s vaccine was ineffective at preventing the flu, especially among seniors. Flu-related hospitalizations of seniors were the highest recorded in the decade that CDC has counted.
If you have questions about the flu vaccine, please call the Immunizations Line at 316-660-7362. He said that rates were highest for children aged 6-23 months, those aged 2-4 years, and adults aged 65 years and older.
“It doesn’t matter which flu vaccine you get – just get one”, Frieden said. Last year’s issue was that the vaccine mutated easily, and a new strain of H3N2 influenza appeared late in the season. Depending on the brand, both trivalent (three component) and quadrivalent (four component) vaccines can be used.
The flu season is unpredictable, and local pharmacies are encouraging customers to get their shot a few weeks before the flu starts creeping into the Valley. The vaccine proved less effective because a newer, harsher strain of the flu emerged after doses were released. Typical flu symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.
Talking about the vaccine he said, “At the moment, we have reasonable confidence that we are going to have a good match between the circulating virus of what’s out there and what’s in the vaccine”.
It is recommended that pregnant women be vaccinated during any trimester.
Experts said it could help older people mount a better immune response.