Village of Park Forest, IL
09/05/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2024 15:06
Park Forest officials urge residents to get their annual flu shot
Assistant Director Margaret Lewis of the Park Forest Recreation Parks & Community Health Department says now is the ideal time to get your flu shot with summer winding down and fall on the horizon.
Lewis said pharmacies started distributing the vaccines last month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting a flu shot this month or next, as flu activity usually increases in the fall and peaks between December and February. The vaccine is recommended for everyone aged six months and older.
"The flu shot protects against the four influenza viruses that are most likely to be common during the upcoming flu season," Lewis said. "They are usually given with a needle in the arm, but there is also a nasal spray flu vaccine."
Lewis stated that it is important for people to get their flu shot every year because flu viruses change rapidly. The vaccine from last year may not fully protect you from the viruses that are circulating this year. New flu vaccines are developed annually to keep up with the changing flu viruses. When you get vaccinated, your immune system produces antibodies to shield you from the viruses contained in the vaccine. However, antibody levels can decrease over time, which is another reason to get a flu shot every year.
"While most people do bounce back from the flu, the virus can be deadly," Lewis said. "Last year, around 25,000 people died of the flu in the U.S. and 400,000 were hospitalized. So, this is a serious virus."
According to Lewis, COVID-19 is still widespread. Health professionals anticipate that both flu and COVID-19 will pose a significant threat during the fall and winter, just as they have in previous years. While the summer surge of COVID-19 cases has not subsided, experts predict another wave this winter, possibly coinciding with the peak of flu cases.