County officials recommend vaccination
As the leaves change from green to red and the calendar flips from September to October, it’s hard to ignore that fall is upon us, bringing with it the annual flu season.
“It’s just starting,” said Dr. Karen Holbrook, Sonoma County deputy health officer. “We’ve already seen cases of influenza in Sonoma County.”
Holbrook urges the public to get a flu shot before the flu season is in full effect.
“A flu shot now, prior to widespread illness, increases your chances of staying healthy,” she said. “The flu vaccine is safe and effective.”
Because the flu is unpredictable and the vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective, Sonoma County health officials urge everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated early in the season. According to Holbrook, ensuring timely flu shots can prevent a disease that hospitalizes 200,000 Americans every year.
Holbrook said the vaccine keeps individuals protected for many months, but not forever. As such, flu shots are needed each season. In addition, the strains of influenza change over time, meaning last year’s flu shot — even if it did stay active for a year — might not be effective against the current season’s flu strains.
Holbrook said the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, which provides guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, follows and collects worldwide data on the strains of flu circulating in different countries and populations.
“They’ll take the information in the spring and make a decision on which strains should go into the vaccine for the fall,” Holbrook said. “It is based on data and a little bit of judgment, too.”
The ACIP is responsible, along with the CDC, for recommending vaccines for certain populations.
While everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated, it is especially important for pregnant women, children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and those with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, asthma and diabetes, Holbrook said.
Holbrook said not to heed too much attention to social media rumors indicating that this season will be the worst flu season on record, as it is too early to discern this season’s severity. She said neither the state nor the county have any data on the season yet.
“It hasn’t circulated broadly yet,” Holbrook added.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. People at higher risk of severe disease who show flu symptoms should contact their medical provider. Medical providers may prescribe antiviral medications that reduce the severity and duration of illness. Antibiotics are not effective against the flu.
Holbrook said there’s a large swath of the population that needs to seek medical help as soon as they begin to experience flu-like symptoms. These individuals include children under the age of 2 or adults older than 65, cardiovascular patients, people with renal, hepatic, hematologic, neurologic or metabolic disorders, individuals with suppressed immune systems, pregnant women, women who are less than two weeks post partum, children under the age of 19 who are on long-term aspirin therapy, American Indians, Alaska Natives, morbidly obese individuals with body mass indexes greater or equal to 40 and residents who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
“It’s a lot of people,” Holbrook said.
In addition to getting the vaccine, county health officials advise individuals take the following steps to protect themselves and loved ones from influenza:
- Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue.
- If you do not have a tissue, cough into your elbow.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Stay home until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours.
Residents are encouraged to contact their health care provider to get their flu shot. The vaccine is also available at pharmacies, retail stores and is offered by some employers. To find a vaccine near you, visit www.vaccinefinder.org.
