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More than 80,000 Americans died of the flu last winter, double the estimated annual average and the highest number in more than a decade, health officials said.
At least 180 children died of the flu, which is also a record, and more than 900,000 people were hospitalized. Citing these numbers, health officials this year again urged everyone to get the flu shot.
"Centra Care had the worst season of its history last year. We were twice as busy as the year before, "said Dr. Timothy Hendrix, Medical Director of Florida Hospital Centra Care. "The flu is a serious infection."
At the press conference held in September at a press conference, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams said, "Last season showed what all public health officials know: the flu can be serious in people of all ages, even in healthy children and adults. "
According to the CDC, 74% of children who died of influenza last year were not vaccinated. About half of the children had no other health problems before getting the flu.
"It's scary that half of these kids are totally healthy," said Dr. Jeannie Moorjani, a pediatrician at Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital. "We want families to know that the flu is serious. We can not predict who will have serious complications; that is why we recommend the flu shot. "
Although the flu vaccine does not provide complete protection against all circulating viruses, it boosts the body's immune system. So, even if you are infected, your symptoms will be less severe, said Moorjani.
"We can always know which children received the vaccine and who did not," she said. Children who have been vaccinated against the flu have less fever and "they are sick for two or three days instead of seven or eight days".
Despite warnings, vaccination rates for children ages 6 months to 17 years remain below the national target of 80% and are even lower in Florida.
The state had the second lowest vaccination rate in the country – 46% – during the last influenza season; the national average was 58%, according to the CDC.
Eight children died of flu in Florida during the 2017-2018 flu season, exceeding the previous two years, according to the Florida Department of Health.
"When you get the flu shot, you protect yourself and those around you," said Moorjani.
Influenza vaccine is recommended for all persons 6 months of age and older, except in rare cases where people can not get the vaccine for medical reasons. Getting vaccinated is even more important for children, pregnant women, the elderly, extremely obese people and people with weakened immune systems.
Unlike the previous two seasons, the FluMist Nasal Spray vaccine is recommended this year, if it is available in a place where you can get vaccinated.
Hendrix and Moorjani said they still preferred to be vaccinated against the flu because it has a long track record and offers protection against more strains.
According to the CDC, the best time to get the flu shot this year is in October, but doctors say it's never too early or too late to get vaccinated.
On average, the flu season begins in Florida in December, but it can be zero in winter and sometimes even in November.
"Get your shot whenever you can," Hendrix said.
The main influenza strain circulating last season was H3N2, which is associated with more complications and deaths than other strains, but it is too early to tell which influenza strains will be dominant this year or how long the season last.
A recent study suggests that influenza seasons may be longer in large cities but that, under good conditions, the virus could spread faster in smaller, less populated areas.
"It's hard to predict what the flu will do," Hendrix said. "Will it be sooner or later? Will we have a bad season? The message of what we saw last year is that the flu is a serious virus. And the best prevention is to get vaccinated against the flu.
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