Doctors urge all people over 6 months to get vaccinated before Halloween

CHICAGO (WLS) –

Pediatric doctors in Chicago warned Monday that anyone over 6 months old should get the flu shot before Halloween.

"This year's influenza vaccine could be more important than ever before," said Dr. Frank Belmonte, of Advocate Children's Hospital.

Last season was the deadliest for the flu for four decades. more than 900,000 people were hospitalized and 80,000 died, including 180 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Eighty-five percent of the victims were not vaccinated.

Autumn has barely begun and the flu has already killed a young child in Florida. This pediatric patient had not been vaccinated.

Dr. John Cunningham, Chief Medical Officer at Comer Children's Hospital, said that "the more people vaccinated in the population, the less likely we are to experience a severe flu season."

Nearly half of the deaths, 45%, had no other risk factors for health. Pregnant women in particular are vulnerable.

"If women have not been vaccinated against influenza with the currently recommended vaccine before becoming pregnant, the time is right to get vaccinated during pregnancy, regardless of the trimester deemed appropriate by mom and his caregiver, "said Dr. Matthew Davis, of Lurie Children's. Hospital.

Doctors also wanted to dispel myths about the influenza vaccine they claim to offer to uninformed celebrities who live in the echo of social media.

"Let's be clear about that," added Davis. "The flu vaccine does not cause the flu."

"Thus, although it has never been shown to cause significant adverse events, I believe that all families in our community should receive this vaccine as soon as possible," said Dr. Michael Kaplan. , of the North Shore University Health System.

Better to be vaccinated against the flu, say the doctors. The shooting lasts nine months. And even though the flu vaccine is not perfectly designed to combat this year's flu version, any protection is better than nothing, doctors say.