CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) If you think flu season is over, you should really give it another thought. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says peak influenza activity can last through March, with flu viruses still active as late as May.
Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt, who is also a flu expert, talks about the late flu season and shares his concerns and stresses the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu.
If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, medical experts like Dr. Schaffner say it’s not too late to visit your health care provider or local pharmacy, but you should do it as soon as possible. By getting vaccinated, you not only protect yourself, but also your family and anyone you come in contact with, according to Schaffner.
Reports say as long as the flu virus is still active and causing illness, it’s not too late to get your flu shot. Vaccinations are especially important for people at high risk for infection and complications from the flu like those with diabetes, asthma and heart disease.
Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. The CDC says influenza associated deaths can range from season to season with the latest available estimates noting there can be as many as 49,000 deaths in a virulent season.
Hospitalization rates can range from a low of 140,000 to a high of 710,000 with the majority of those hospitalized typically being those 65 and older with recent data showing that only 63 percent of older Americans get vaccinated in a typical season.