Flu season is pretty severe this year stretching health care providers and drug supplies. According to the CDC there is now widespread flu activity in 41 states. This season over 2,200 people have been hospitalized and diagnosed with the flu and 18 children have died.
No one can say when it will be over, but most seasons last 11-12 weeks. We’re now into week five.
Emergency rooms are crammed with patients showing flu-like symptoms. In some cases patients come in coughing and are immediately relocated to other areas to keep them from infecting others.
Bostonhas already declared a health emergency (it’s not yet bad enough to be labeled an epidemic) having 10 times as many confirmed cases of the flu as it did last year. Health centers around the city are offering flu shots to those who haven’t yet been vaccinated, for as long as supplies last.
Several manufacturers are selling out of their formulations for the flu vaccine, others expect to within the next month.
On the other side of the issue, many areas have sold out of Tamiflu and other prescriptions that are given out to those who are suffering from the flu. The FDA isn’t concerned however, and they say you shouldn’t be either. Right now all this means is you may have to call around a bit to find where your prescriptions or the vaccine is currently available, but it’s not unusual for there to be shortages, especially this late in the season.
The good news is, it’s not too late to get vaccinated. It usually takes two weeks to reach peak antibody levels, but as soon as you get the shot you’re getting some sort of protection. So far it seems like the vaccine is a good match for the virus that is currently circulating around. It’s important to remember however that even if you’ve had the shot you’re still at risk to contract the virus. For that reason frequent hand washing is a must and follow that up with a goo pump of alcohol based hand sanitizer. If you start to feel sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school to prevent from spreading the virus further.
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