National statistics show the flu season may have peaked, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods, yet. Plenty of people are still very sick from what doctors call an early and severe flu season.
“The good news is the flu strains out there now are the exact flu strains in the vaccination,” Lee Norman, MD, chief medical officer for The University of Kansas Hospital said, “so people can feel good about getting the right vaccine for the right reasons.”
It’s not too late to get a flu shot. While some local medical outlets are reporting shortages, The University of Kansas Hospital has several hundred on hand and has ordered 500 more doses.
In addition to the flu, children have been battling a strong season of RSV this year.
“RSV is a virus with similar symptoms to the flu attacking children’s respiratory systems,” Mike Lewis, MD and pediatrician said. Dr. Lewis said so far, all of his flu cases have been children who did not have a flu shot.
Children can get their first flu shot at age six months and until age eight require a booster shot one month later to be fully protected from the flu.
Older children and adults who routinely get flu shots need only one vaccination each year.
