Flu season is back and in full effect after hitting our southern states hard this year, especially in the DMV area. The DMV is one of the regions with the highest influenza activity in the country. According to the CDC’s Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update, Kansas is on the high scale, while states like Wyoming, South Dakota, and New Hampshire are on the low scale. Places with large populations like New York City, Washington DC and Atlanta are at a very high level. Kansas sits in the middle of regions with and without high influenza rates. How cautious should we be about cold and flu season?
Cold and flu season has always been popular, and there have been periods of massive outbreaks. Could this year be worse than previous years? “At this point, I can tell you that Dickinson County flu activity remains relatively low. I have received information on influenza activity from Herington Hospital and Memorial Health so far. Both are seeing some positive cases of flu, but nothing overwhelming at this time,” said Brenda Weaver, associate director of health. In 2020, influenza was the ninth leading cause of death. Total deaths were 53,544, with an average of 16.3 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the CDC.
Vaccinations are never fun, adult or child, no one likes getting an injection in the arm. That being said, they are widely used in diseases such as influenza. Some believe they work and some don’t believe in them at all. Is there any way to know how effective the vaccine will be this year? “It’s hard to say at this point. Of course, we always hope that it offers a good level of protection for the public, but predicting which strains of influenza may be circulating and which strains of influenza are actually circulating can be a challenge. It’s important to remember that some protection is better than none, and vaccination can help reduce the severity of symptoms and shorten the duration of flu symptoms,” Weaver said.
For those who have not yet been vaccinated against the flu, there is still hope. Some choose to just give it a try, relying on having a strong immune system and being very careful, although this may not be the best option. People who are not vaccinated but want to be vaccinated can make that happen. “People who have not yet been vaccinated but are interested in getting vaccinated can contact the Dickinson County Health Department at 785-263-4179. Flu vaccines are also available at some local pharmacies in the county, and of course at major pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS,” said Brend Weaver.
Some people choose not to get vaccinated because they are waiting too long or are simply undecided. There’s nothing wrong with getting vaccinated or not, it just helps protect our immune system and keep us healthy during the winter. When is the best time for vaccination? “September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated, but immunizations continue through early and late winter and early spring,” Weaver said. As always, maintain good hygiene and just be a little more careful and you might stand a chance of beating influenza.
