The NBC Nightly News (1/6, ) briefly reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “says this [flu] season is worse than last,” with “more than 10,000 cases reported nationwide.” Physicians are saying, however, that the “flu shot is a good match for this year’s dominant strain and it’s not too late to get one.”
USA Today (1/6) reported that federal epidemiologist Lynnette Brammer said “while it’s too early to tell if the annual flu vaccine is effective, it closely matches the strains of flu commonly in circulation, which suggests it will be effective.”
Meanwhile, the Washington Post (1/7) said that according to the recent CDC report, “only 2 out of 5 Americans have received the shot so far this flu season.”
NJ.com : During the closing week of 2016, Monmouth County had the most number of positive flu tests, followed by Essex, Bergen, and Ocean counties.
Blogfinger medical commentary. Paul Goldfinger, MD:
Monmouth County has been among the most seriously affected in New Jersey with the flu. The virus which is responsible, the H2N3 strain of Influenza A ,is the same as the strain which caused many people in 2014 to get so ill. Now the flu attacks tend to be more severe and more sustained. The peak season is December through February, and there is still time to get the vaccine. The most severely affected tend to be the very young and the very old.
The demand for the vaccine is quite high now, and everyone, all ages, should get it unless there is some specific reason not to (such as egg allergies.)
Hi Jo-Jo. Refer your naysayers to the CDC.gov website which explains in scientific terms why everyone should receive a flu shot.
It can save lives and reduce morbidity from influenza. Remind them of the deaths during the 1918 flu pandemic: 20-50 million people died worldwide, including children.
The risk/benefit ratio clearly indicates that the right thing to do is to run to the nearest pharmacy to get your shot if you haven’t done so.
I love to hear from RN’s, so thanks Jo Jo for contacting us.
Paul
Paul,
What’s a good answer to all the anti-vaccinators?
It’s a touchy and controversial subject. It seems
the “younger” generation is against vaccination.
To them it’s all about the money making drug companies.