The next flu season officially starts Oct. 3, and health officials recommend people get a flu vaccination right away.
Jefferson County Health Department epidemiologist Sara Wilton said the best time to get a flu shot is the end of September or early October.
She said the Health Department plans to start vaccinating people at the end of September.
Dr. Karthik Iyer, Mercy Jefferson’s chief medical officer and ICU medical director, said the main way to protect yourself from the flu is to get the vaccine.
“The recommendation is that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season, with this season being no exception,” he said.
Mercy Jefferson, 1400 Hwy. 61, in Crystal City will hold a drive-thru flu vaccination clinic from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25. The clinic is open to anyone 7 and older, and vaccinations will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Iyer said the drive-thru clinic is being held to raise awareness about the importance of getting the flu shot and to make it easier for people to get it.
“Whatever we can do to decrease the flu burden while in the midst of a COVID pandemic, we want to try and do that,” he said.
Iyer said he is worried about the hospital being filled up with flu and COVID-19 patients at the same time.
“Flu in itself causes several thousand deaths every year in the United States and having a double whammy with two viruses at the same time, is something we definitely can’t afford,” Iyer said.
No deaths from the flu were reported in Jefferson County during the 2020-2021 flu season, and just 136 flu cases were reported in the county during that period, Wilton said.
Wilton said health officials aren’t sure what to expect this coming flu season, but she believes more people might be susceptible because of the low number of cases last year.
“That’s one of the reasons why experts don’t know if this is going to be a bad year for the flu because there’s going to be that many more susceptible people out there, but if you get one shot, that’s one of those awesome protections against the flu,” she said.
“We also don’t know to what extent people are going to be using masks and social distancing, which are two of those really great strategies that can certainly help reduce not only the spread of COVID, but the spread of the flu.”
Wilton said you can get a
COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time.
“You can get (the flu vaccine) in conjunction with any other vaccination,” she said. “One of the ways we can help make sure (the flu season) is not outrageous and that we’re not stressing our healthcare system even more than they already are, is to get your flu shot.”
Flu cases also were down across the state during the 2020-2021 season.
A total 1,795 flu cases and two flu-related deaths were reported in Missouri last flu season, according to the Department of Health and Senior Services.
The 2019-2020 flu season in Jefferson county was the second highest flu season on record, with a total of 2,932 cases, four flu-related deaths, according to the Health Department.
During the 2019-2020 season, DHSS reported a total of 113,395 cases across the state and 101 deaths.
The worst flu season on record in Jefferson County was the 2017-2018 season, with 3,982 cases and 16 deaths, according to Health Department reports.
Wilton said she hopes people continue to take measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, which also will help curb the spread of the flu.
“Everything that we are doing currently to help reduce the spread of COVID is going to be helpful against the flu since they’re both those respiratory viruses,” she said. “So masking, distancing, hand washing, and getting your vaccine are going to be those main things.”
Wilton said the 2021-2022 season will officially end May 21, 2022.