Fall is just about here, and winter is right around the corner, and with it will come flu season. Over the next few months, we’ll likely see an increase in cases of respiratory viruses like the flu, COVID-19, and others. There are lots of ways you can help keep yourself and your family healthy this winter.
The flu can be more serious than people think. Symptoms of the flu can include fever, chills, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and body aches. The flu can also lead to other complications, such as an ear infection or more serious complications like pneumonia. Some people are more likely to experience severe flu symptoms and complications, or to be hospitalized, including those with pre-existing medical conditions, people who live in long-term care facilities, people who are pregnant, and children under the age of 5.
The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot. The flu vaccine has been widely used since 1945 and was researched for many years before that. There are many strains, or variants, of influenza, and each year flu vaccines are developed, targeting 3 or 4 strains of the virus predicted to be most common in the coming flu season. Studies have found that the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu illness by 40% to 60%. However, even if the vaccine doesn’t fully prevent someone from getting the flu, it can lessen the severity of the illness and help prevent hospitalizations.
The flu vaccine is widely available, and community members can visit vaccines.gov to find a location to get vaccinated. Everyone 6 months of age and older, with some exceptions, should get the flu vaccine each year, and it’s recommended to be vaccinated before Halloween. Many employers offer the flu vaccine to employees at the job site, so check with your employer about any upcoming flu vaccine clinics. Each year, including this year, Green County Public Health works with local school districts to offer the flu vaccine to kids in school each fall. Parents and guardians can stay tuned for more information about upcoming flu vaccine clinics from their child’s school. People can learn more about the flu vaccine at www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm, or by talking with a trusted healthcare provider.
In addition to the flu vaccine, now is a good time for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s important to note that the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccines are different, and it’s recommended that people get both vaccines. In August, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. Like all vaccines administered in the United States, the COVID-19 vaccines have successfully gone through lab development, three phases of clinical trials assessment of clinical trial results by the FDA, and the approval of vaccine recommendations through the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC. Additionally, there are systems that continue to monitor and track outcomes from COVID-19 vaccines to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Since 2020, more than 200 million people in the U.S. have safely received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines remain the most effective way to protect people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying from COVID-19. To find a location to get the COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccines.gov.
To get more information and updates about the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine, you can follow Green County Public Health on our Facebook page or visit our website, gcpublichealth.org. Or, if you have specific questions, call us at (608) 328-9390.
— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@greencountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
