Health officials warn flu virus may increase this Fall
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Health officials warn that the influenza virus may be worse than the past few years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that people get the flu and COVID vaccines as soon as possible.
Over the past two years, COVID-19 precautions stopped the spread of the flu by wearing masks and social distancing.
Although, as people are moving into life like pre-pandemic times, flu cases are expected to spike.
“I’m not so sure that flu is kind of front and center on people’s minds because the last couple years we’ve had a very mild flu season, and that was really due to all the things that had to go around COVID, so everybody was wearing masks and social distancing and things like that, but we all know that the people aren’t doing the same restrictions now,” explained Nathan Koffarnus, an epidemiologist with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
The CDC recommends anyone who is 65 years or older get a high-dose flu shot which carries a higher dose of vaccine for added protection.
“At least so far it looks like this is probably going to be a pretty effective version of the flu shot this year so that’s something to consider,” continued Koffarnus.
