Public well being officers encourage Texans get their flu vaccination now – Welcome to the Metropolis of Fort Value

Printed on October 04, 2022

Influenza season is beneath means, and the Texas Division of State Well being Providers recommends eligible Texans get vaccinated now to guard themselves from the flu. As a result of it takes about two weeks for the physique to make flu antibodies after vaccine administration, early vaccination is essential.

“The flu vaccines for the 2022-2023 flu season have undergone substantial adjustments since final season, which is able to permit them to higher defend in opposition to the flu viruses which might be at the moment circulating,” stated stated Dr. Jennifer Shuford, DSHS interim commissioner. “So you will need to go get this season’s flu vaccine earlier than flu exercise will increase much more in Texas.”

Simply as COVID-19 sickness impacts sure populations extra severely than others, influenza may also trigger extra extreme sickness to susceptible populations. These with continual well being circumstances, older adults, younger youngsters, pregnant ladies and individuals who stay them ought to get vaccinated to guard themselves and people of their households and communities.

There are three really useful greater dose flu vaccines for folks 65 years or older to select from for this 2022-2023 flu season. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends any of those vaccines for this age group as they’re doubtlessly more practical than normal dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. No preferential suggestions had been made for folks beneath 65 years of age.

Folks can safely get the influenza vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine or booster on the identical time with none lack of effectiveness.

Influenza sickness is attributable to one in every of plenty of associated viruses. Onset of signs is swift and may embrace fever, physique aches, chills, a dry cough, sore throat, runny nostril, headache and excessive fatigue. These can final per week or longer.

Contact your physician, pharmacy or native well being division to study the place you may get your flu shot or use the vaccine finder at Vaccines.gov to search out out the place flu pictures can be found. Well being care professionals additionally advocate folks search therapy promptly if they’re experiencing flu signs. Antiviral medicine could reduce the length or severity of the flu if began inside 48 hours of the onset of signs.

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