Not to be confused with other ailments going around, like the norovirus stomach bug, the flu is a respiratory virus that usually peaks somewhere between December and February. And this year, the Centers for Disease Control is warning of a more severe strain.
If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, Akiko Iwasaki, professor of immunobiology at Yale Medical School, still recommends you do.
"It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine, because you could potentially get the flu from now until April," Iwasaki said. "And this one is predicted to be pretty severe, so that’s all the more reason to get the vaccine."
The sooner the better, said Iwasaki, since it can take a week or two for the vaccine to become fully effective. And of course, those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk -- young children and older adults.
"One of the things that people don’t often think about is the mortality from flu -- most of that occurs in older adults above 65 years of age," said Iwasaki. "So, 90 percent of death from flu happens in that age group, and so it’s really particularly important if you’re over that age group to get the vaccine."
This year, there’s a new high-dose vaccine for adults 65 and older. It incorporates more flu antigens than regular flu shots.
The CDC recommends a flu vaccine for kids six months or older, and prompt treatment with antiviral drugs for people who are already sick, or who are at high risk of flu.
