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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – It's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu.
This is the message from health experts in Allen County after a recent rise in the number of influenza cases. And they say that the strain of the virus that is currently circulating could be more dangerous.
"H3N2 is so much more than that, it likes the heart and therefore tends to cause a lot more heart attacks, a lot more heart failure," said Dr. Scott Stienecker, Medical Director of Epidemiology and Disease. infection prevention at Parkview Health.
Dr. Stienecker said Parkview Health normally admits one or two people a day with flu throughout the year. These numbers have increased dramatically in recent weeks.
"About three or four weeks ago, we saw a sharp increase of 15 to 20 people a day, but in the last two weeks we have seen an increase of about 45 people a day," did he declare.
That's why Dr. Stienecker joined Dr. Deborah McMahan, a member of the Allen County Health Commission, on Monday to urge everyone to get vaccinated.
"We really make a call to people, if you have not been vaccinated, go to your doctor, go to a local pharmacy and get vaccinated," McMahan said.
Although disease control and prevention centers are not able to determine the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine before the end of the season, McMahan and Stinecker say it is about the time it takes to get the flu shot done. better protection than anything.
"It takes about two weeks to develop complete immunity, but even partial immunity over the next week or two would always be better than nothing and would help to lessen the signs and symptoms of the infection," added Dr. Stienecker.
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