It’s almost that time of year again, flu season is right around the corner. Although summer just ended, and many folks might not be ready to think about preparing for cold and flu season, right now is the perfect time to get vaccinated against the flu. It’s recommended that people get their flu shot before Halloween each year.
Influenza (or the flu) is a contagious respiratory virus that affects the nose, throat and lungs. There are two types of flu: Influenza A and Influenza B and these are responsible for the seasonal spread of the flu in humans each year. This virus spreads easily from person to person through particles in respiratory droplets that travel through the air when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes. Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and body aches.
The severity of flu season varies every year, and it can be difficult to predict exactly what the upcoming flu season will look like. The CDC estimates that influenza resulted in 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations each year and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths each year in the United States prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2010 to 2020). During the 2020-2021 flu season, flu activity was unusually low. The CDC notes that COVID-19 mitigation measures like wearing masks, staying home, reduced travel, and physical distancing, likely contributed to the decline in 2020-2021 flu cases.
The flu can be more severe or even fatal for some groups of people, including those with pre-existing medical conditions, people who live in long-term care facilities and children under the age of 5. Parents, caregivers and family members should know the emergency signs and symptoms of the flu and seek medical attention if their loved one is exhibiting these symptoms. In adults, emergency warning signs look like difficulty breathing/shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, sudden dizziness and severe vomiting. In children trouble breathing, a bluish skin color, high fever with a rash, and not eating or drinking enough are emergency warning signs.
The flu is preventable. Taking steps like getting vaccinated, practicing good hand hygiene, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick can help limit the spread. The flu vaccine is widely available, community members can visit vaccines.gov to find a local provider near them. Many employers also offer the flu vaccine to employees at the job site. Additionally, Green County Public Health will be working with local school districts to offer the flu vaccine to children at schools in Green County.
Anyone who is 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine this year, and there are certain groups of people who are especially encouraged to get a flu shot. Health care workers, people over the age of 65, people who live in long term care facilities, people with underlying medical conditions, and infants are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. Individuals who aren’t a part of one of these groups should still get vaccinated to reduce their risk of getting influenza.
It’s important to note that the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccines are different, and it’s recommended that people get both. The new updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters do not include the flu vaccine, and community members will need to receive two different vaccines. People can however get both vaccines at the same appointment if the vaccinating facility has both vaccines available.
Getting vaccinated against the flu not only protects the person who got vaccinated, but also those around them; their parents, their children, their spouse, their friends, and their co-workers. When someone gets vaccinated they help break the chain of transmissions, preventing the disease from infecting them and their loved ones.
— Bridget Craker is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bcraker@greengountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
