Sometimes a movie comes along where the supporting actor steals the show — like Octavia Spencer in The Help or Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls. COVID has had the spotlight for nearly three years, but this winter, it looks like influenza will steal the show.
The flu season has come early, and it’s tough this year already in the southeast of the country. I fear we’re on the brink of a deadly season for respiratory illnesses. Not since the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic has there been so many cases of the flu so early. The CDC has said that this flu season is unusual and likely has been affected by the COVID pandemic.
What’s worrisome to me is that flu vaccination rates are low. The flu shot might not keep you from getting sick, but it has an excellent record of preventing people from getting so ill that they need to see a doctor or end up in the hospital. Getting a bad case of the flu is never fun. Avoid the misery and feel good that you’re also protecting the people around you from catching your bug. Last time I wrote about how you should get the COVID booster. While you’re there, get the flu shot too.
The Washington Post ran a good article about this season’s flu. If you want more information, it’s a good read: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/10/28/flu-season-2022-cdc/
