It’s not too late to get a flu shot

There still is time to get a yearly flu shot.

Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski said the best time to get a flu shot is before Halloween, but it is always a good time to get a flu shot.

Pettit-Majewski said the flu shot takes around two weeks to be effective. Now would be a good time to get the shot if people are planning on visiting relatives for Christmas.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, local health officials say it is more important than ever to get a flu shot.

From a clinical perspective, COVID-19 can look like influenza, said Dr. David Nacos of the Washington County Hospital and Clinics.

'Getting the flu shot allows people to have one less thing to worry about,” Nacos said.

Pettit-Majewski said public health experts are expecting COVID-19 cases to increase this fall and winter, and getting the flu shot can help reduce the disease burden on the community.

In a bad flu season, as many as 50,000 to 75,000 people can die, Nacos said.

Nacos said in Iowa the heavy flu outbreaks start in December.

He said it takes a couple of weeks before the vaccine starts to work, and people can start passing the flu to others a day or two before showing symptoms.

Pettit-Majewski said there may be less flu this year because of masks, social distancing and good health practices.

'It prevents COVID and helps with influenza,” she said.

People under the age of 18 tend to spread the flu more than others because they are mobile. Nacos said they can get the flu and pass it to other individuals in their family who are older and younger.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone over the age of 6 months to be vaccinated against the flu. The younger and older people in the population are the ones most at risk.

A higher dose flu vaccine is available for those over the age of 65 or considered high risk.

High-risk individuals are those who have frequent health problems, diabetes, frequent lung infections or taking immune modifying drugs.

A nasal flu shot is available for those between ages 2 and 49 for people who may not like needles.

Nacos said getting immunized can help with herd immunity and lessen the flu for the general population.

There are a variety of places people can go to get immunized. The Washington County Hospital and Clinics have several flu clinics this time of year, and people can also receive a flu shot at Hy-Vee and Walmart.