After the brutal flu season, officials say they get vaccinated

As a result of a brutal flu season that has left more than 150 people dead in the state, authorities say people should be vaccinated early.

"It's never too early to get a flu shot, especially if you have a high-risk problem," said Mick Bolduc, epidemiologist for the Connecticut vaccination program.

In recent weeks, state pharmacies have begun to announce that flu vaccines are available and Bolduc believes that efforts to vaccinate people will intensify over the next few weeks.

The flu season may have weeks to make a real impact in Connecticut, but Bolduc said the flu still circulates throughout the year. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that influenza activity was low, but they expect it to recover this fall.

Bolduc said the doctors' offices were also receiving their first deliveries of this year's vaccine, which contains four strands of the virus, collected by medical experts after examining a host of data.

Last season, at least 154 people died in Connecticut during one of the most dangerous seasons of influenza in recent years. With deaths that far exceeded previous years, the state reported that there were more hospital admissions than in the years since the swine flu pandemic.

"Last year was a very bad year and last year we had three pediatric deaths in Connecticut," Bolduc said. "These are children under 19 who have not been vaccinated but who are in good health."

The American Academy of Pediatrics said that parents should think about getting their children aged 6 months and older vaccinated as soon as possible and preferably by the end of October.

Last season, about 180 children died in the country because of the flu and the authorities said more than 80% of them had not received the flu shot.

The group suggested that families opt for the vaccine in the form of a vaccine, instead of a nasal spray, as the shot seems to be more effective.

Bolduc said that it seems that groups such as the PAA are taking a cautious approach until they see the effectiveness of the nasal spray, which had problems in the past.

"They do not say that the vaccine could not be effective, they just want to see other data," Bolduc said. Both the PAA and Bolduc have stated that if the nasal spray was the only feasible option for your child, always get it.

Last year, the overall effectiveness of the vaccine was questioned. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publish preliminary information in the middle of the influenza season and showed that last year's combination was only 36% effective against current flu currents last year.

"Last year was not a great match, but people have to remember, even in a year when the vaccine is not a very good match … it's still the best protection we have," he said. Bolduc said.

The benefits of being vaccinated have a broader impact, said Dr. Jason Kurtzman, MD at GoHealth Urgent Care.

If someone gets vaccinated, it helps protect everyone who may not be vaccinated for a variety of reasons.

"It's a public safety issue as much as a personal safety issue," Kurtzman said. "You help people around you as much as you help yourself."