Health officials: Get flu shot before it's too late

Oct. 19--Flu season has begun, and county health officials have advice on how to avoid illness.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that can sometimes lead to death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. It's transmitted primarily by small droplets that spread in the air when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. Those droplets can travel 3 to 6 feet, said Russell Grant, regional director of infection prevention at Fox Hospital.

Grant said flu season is off to a slow but unusually early start.

"We don't always see flu cases as early in the season as this year, but we don't have a lot of cases," he said.

Grant said practicing good hygiene -- such as washing hands, and good cough and sneeze etiquette -- is an effective way to prevent the spread of flu. Some people may elect to wear masks in public if they're sick, he said, but it's more helpful to stay home and recover.

However, the most effective way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine.

"Immunization is the first line of prevention," said Kim Schlosser, assistant director of public health at Otsego County Department of Health. "The best prevention for flu is to protect yourself and your family."

Flu activity often begins to increase starting in October, according to the CDC's website. It usually peaks between December and February and can linger as late as May.

"It affects everybody, because infants cant get vaccinated until they're six months old so we see babies sick. Elderly are more at risk too," Schlosser said. "So if we don't have that herd immunity, it kind of puts everybody at risk."

Anyone with a fragile immune system, including people who have asthma, heart disease and diabetes, is especially at risk for contracting the flu, she said. In some cases, flu can lead to life-threatening pneumonia.

Chenango County had 555 confirmed cases of flu from November 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, said Heather Miller, registered nurse at the Chenango County Department of Health. So far this year, there are none, she said.

Each year, the CDC conducts studies to determine how well the flu vaccine worked at protecting against the flu virus. According to its website, recent studies show "flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine."

If someone gets their flu vaccine but still ends up contracting the flu, Miller said, their symptoms can be less severe and the duration of illness can be shorter.

The Otsego County Department of Health has flu vaccines for children and adults, which people can call ahead to schedule and appointment for, Schlosser said. If one doesn't have insurance, the flu shot is $25 but there is a sliding scale for payment, she said. The Chenango County Department of Health holds clinics that offer the vaccine. Miller said she recommends calling ahead to schedule an appointment but walk-ins are accepted.

Bassett patients 18 years and older can get flu shots at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown on Oct. 23, Nov. 6, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. No appointment is necessary. For self-pay, the cost is $40.

Visit www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/flu-finder-widget.html to find out where you can get a flu vaccine near you.

Shweta Karikehalli, staff writer, can be reached at skarikehalli@thedailystar.com or 607-441-7221. Follow her @DS_ShwetaK on Twitter.

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