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Southern Seven Health Department warns influenza season could come early

Influenza seemed to take a back seat to COVID-19 this past winter, but like always it's planning a comeback.

Southern Seven Health Department is recommending everyone who can to get their annual flu shot to protect themselves and their loved ones from serious flu-related complications, including hospitalization and death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with reduced population immunity due to the lack of flu virus activity since March, we could see an earlier flu season this year. This is especially concerning if you are immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions.

The CDC reports that as a result of COVID-19 mitigation measures, and health guidance provided by the CDC to reduce its spread, the number of flu cases worldwide during the 2020-2021 season was unusually low despite high levels of testing. In the U.S., between September 2020 and May 2021 only 1,675 (0.2%) of the 818,939 clinical samples tested for flu were positive. Likewise, the low level of flu activity during this time contributed to dramatically fewer flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths compared with previous flu seasons.

Flu vaccination likely also contributed to a reduction in flu illness during the 2020-2021 season due to a record number of flu vaccines distributed. As of February 2021, 193.8 million doses of flu vaccine had been distributed in the U.S. Preliminary estimates by the CDC show that 50-55% of adults got a flu shot compared with the 2019-2020 estimate of 48% by the end of May 2020.

According to the CDC it is not currently known how flu activity will be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, health care professionals are preparing for both viruses to spread along with other respiratory illnesses.

It is possible to have more than one virus at a time. Relaxed COVID-19 mitigation measures could result in higher flu and other virus activity this fall; flooding an already overwhelmed health care system.

The burden of influenza in the U.S. can vary widely and is determined by several factors, including the characteristics of circulating flu viruses, the timing of the season, how well the flu vaccine is at protecting those who are vaccinated, and how many people get the shot.

While we do not know what will happen during the upcoming influenza season, vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against flu and its potentially serious complications. For more information on flu vaccine benefits and to schedule your flu shot, call S7HD at (618) 634-2297 or visit www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm.