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The best time to get a flu shot is now, medical experts told Fox News, after a historic low in the season last year left doctors concerned about the increased susceptibility of patients to related illnesses. has the flu.
Swift adoption of the flu vaccine can also reduce the burden on the medical system and protect at-risk populations from poor outcomes such as hospitalization and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone aged 6 months and older should get a flu shot every season, with rare exceptions.
“It is perfectly reasonable to get the flu shot now,” Dr Stanley Deresinski, clinical professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Stanford University, told Fox News, noting that the recommendation to get the flu shot s ‘extends until the end of October. “You can roll the dice and get it later assuming flu season comes later wherever you are.”
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January 23, 2020: A patient receives a flu shot in Mesquite, Texas.
(AP Photo / LM Otero, File)
COVID-19 VACCINE TO ADULT ADMINISTERED TO DEATH AT 4 YEARS OF AGE INSTEAD OF A FLU STROKE
Experts owe the historically low level of influenza activity last year to preventative measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as masking, distancing and hand hygiene. Dr Gregory Poland, infectious disease expert and director of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, is concerned about a potential so-called ‘tridemic’ this year with the overlap between COVID-19, influenza and the VRS [respiratory syncytial virus] cases, although difficult to predict.
Doctors start worrying about the flu in October, with cases typically increasing in November-December, while the west coast tends to peak later in the season, Deresinski said. Most cases of the flu involve the upper respiratory tract, with symptoms such as a sore throat and persistent cough, but some infections can spread to the lungs, causing pneumonia, which can be fatal. he adds.
As of September 18, 2021, the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza activity remained minimal to low in nearly all U.S. states, according to data reported to ILINEt, an influenza surveillance network run by the CDC.
Federal data indicating the proportion of outpatient visits to providers for ILI.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC)
Meanwhile, national PCR tests positive for RSV, a common respiratory virus typically causing mild cold-like symptoms, have dropped from around 1% in mid-April to 12.8% by September 25, suggesting an unusual rise in summer. RSV can be problematic for certain age groups, such as infants, as it can cause bronchiolitis, affecting the lower lungs, Deresinski explained, while also noting potential problems for adults with immunocompromised conditions. Most RSV infections resolve on their own and there is no specific treatment for RSV, although efforts to develop drugs are underway, according to the CDC. To relieve symptoms, the agency advises acetaminophen or ibuprofen, plenty of fluids, and seeing a healthcare practitioner.
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The three respiratory illnesses at hand (COVID-19, influenza and RSV) cause overlapping symptoms, and experts told Fox News it was difficult to reliably differentiate them, which posed a significant problem. as the US heads into the colder months and providers face testing patients for multiple respiratory pathogens.
“Imagine having COVID and the flu together, what does that do to your complication rate, your risk of dying, especially if you have an underlying illness or are elderly? Said Poland.
New findings released Thursday indicated that it was safe to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot at the same time, according to a British study, further supporting United States health recommendations on co-administration of vaccines.
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