Public health officials in Iowa are urging the public to get flu shots as the influenza season heats up up.
“It is mild so far,” said University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Infectious Disease Fellow Hiroyuki Suzuki. “There are only nine reported cases in Iowa. So, it’s very good timing for people to get the influenza vaccine.”
Kate Klefstad, Clinical Services Manager at Johnson County Public Health, in a news release, said getting a flu shot is one of the best way people can protect themselves and their loved ones.
“The strains of the vaccine change annually to match what is most likely to circulate during the season, so it’s important to get the flu shot every year,” Klefstad said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people get their flu shots by the end of October. Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus.
The CDC reported about 80,000 people died from the flu last year, according to an interview with the Associated Press. It’s considered to be the highest death toll in about 40 years since the CDC began estimating flu mortality.
Public health officials recommend everyone six months of age and older get the flu vaccine before the seasonal flu starts spreading. Public clinics and multiple locations across the Iowa City area offer vaccine services by appointment or walk-in availability through December.
“It is really important to vaccinate people that are very old, very young, or pregnant,” said UI Hospitals & Clinics Hospital Epidemiologist Jorge Luis Salinas. “Vaccination is more important in people who have a weakened immune system.”
Jacob Riley, a disease prevention specialist with the public health department, said the number of flu cases is not tracked at the county or city level, only at the state level.
Iowa recorded an increase in influenza-associated hospitalizations last year compared to previous years. A total of 1,890 hospitalizations were logged from October 2017 through May 2018, according to weekly reports from the end of last year’s flu season.
Suzuki said there were 427 confirmed cases at UI Hospitals & Clinics last year, more than the typical average of about 300 per year. He added that the severity of the cases was similar to previous years.
“The flu activity in Iowa this year is currently classified as low and sporadic, but it is very early in the season,” Riley said.
Because it takes about two weeks following a vaccination for the body to produce enough antibodies to protect against the flu, authorities say it’s important people don’t delay getting their shot.
As flu viruses change annually, the make-up of the vaccine is updated every year.
“This year the vaccine is expected to be a better match,” Suzuki said.
Riley said this year there are a few additional changes in terms of preparations for the flu season. Persons with egg allergies are now able to receive any recommended flu vaccine, recommended age ranges for some vaccines have been expanded to include younger children and the FluMist can be administered again for those who qualify.
Potential side effects of the vaccine include headaches or muscle aches, but those typically go away after a day or two.
Johnson County Public Health also recommends in addition to getting vaccinated, people wash their hands, cover their coughs and contain their germs by staying home if sick. But the vaccine remains most effective, experts say.
“People should not be persuaded by reports of lower vaccine effectiveness,” Salinas said. “Overall, getting a vaccine is the best way of preventing influenza.”
Flu shot services:
Johnson County Public Health Department
Call 319-356-6042 to find out more information on clinics and walk-in times.
Visiting Nurse Association
The flu and pneumonia public clinic schedule can be found here. Locations include Iowa City schools.
University of Iowa Health Care
Walk-in clinic information found here.
Local pharmacies
CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens locations also offer flu shot services by appointment and walk-in.
Reach Hillary Ojeda at 319-339-7345, [email protected] or follow her on Twitter at @hillarymojeda
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