December is typically a busy time for traveling. Many university students go home for winter break and lots of families travel for Christmas and New Year's. Health experts say you should consider getting your flu shot at least two weeks before your trip.
"The flu shot typically takes up to two weeks to be most effective and so we want to make sure that people are doing that within a time frame that helps protect them," Heidi Parker, Executive Director of Immunize Nevada said.
Despite the pandemic, many people still chose to travel during the Thanksgiving weekend and the same is expected in a few weeks. Studies show that the flu vaccine can help reduce strokes and heart attacks in people over the age of 50. The shot might not protect you from COVID-19, but Parker says it can keep you from getting sick in other ways.
"It's going to protect you from influenza so while everybody's talking about this forthcoming vaccine for COVID-19, we have a vaccine right now that protects from this other respiratory disease," Parker said.
Flu season is already underway but Parker says January and February tend to be the worst months. Cases can happen into the late spring, so it's not too late to get your flu shot.
"We are still looking at flu season ahead of us and if you haven't gotten your flu shot, it's absolutely important to still do that," Parker said.
The flu shot protects the people who get vaccinated, and that also helps protect others. If you can't catch the virus, you can't spread it.
"If you're going to the grocery store, the bank, some of those errands you still might be running, getting that flu shot helps protect the people you come into contact with," Parker said.
Anyone over the age of six months is encouraged to get the flu shot. Especially people in vulnerable populations.
"Our younger kids, our older parents, adults like grandparents, maybe people that are sick, recovering from cancer treatment," Parker said. "All of those people in our lives that might be experiencing some kind of health condition."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 38 million Americans caught influenza during the 2019-2020 flu season. 18 million visited a doctor's office because of it, 405,000 people were hospitalized and 22,000 died from the flu. That was considered a moderate year.
"Looking at the number of, especially children that died last flu season, it was one of the highest numbers we've seen," Parker said. "It is a serious and fatal disease."
The young and old are usually considered to be higher risk but the disease can affect people of all ages. Last year, more than 40 percent of flu cases were in the 18-49 age range.
"I've seen absolutely healthy, young adults be hospitalized and unfortunately we know that they have also, we've seen deaths in that age group," Parker said.
Symptoms of influenza may be similar to the common cold. Parker says the symptoms usually come on stronger and faster than the cold does.
"You usually can't get out of bed," Parker said. "You're pretty down and out for a few days, sometimes up to a week."
She says it is critical to get the flu shot this year. Especially because we are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic at the same time, and some of the symptoms are the same. Studies show that the flu vaccine can reduce hospitalizations among adults and pregnant women by 40 percent. That leaves more hospital beds for people who are dealing with COVID-19 and other health care needs.
"We understand that getting a flu shot helps our health care heroes and those are working overtime right now for COVID-19. Adding influenza to that is not a burden we want," Parker said.
Parker says cost should not be a concern either. You can get a vaccine at the health district, community clinic or doctor's office regardless of insured status. Nevada has programs in place to pay for the shot. Immunize Nevada also offers free flu shot clinics.
