Flu cases have already begun showing up at the IU Health Center on the Bloomington campus, according to medical director Dr. Beth Rupp.
That means it’s more important than ever for staff and faculty to get their flu shots this year, she said. Getting a flu shot should be the first step in preventing influenza. Anyone 6 months or older should get an annual flu shot, unless they have had a severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine or one of its components in the past.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that during the severe 2017-18 influenza season – notable for an unusually long duration of widespread high influenza activity throughout the U.S. and higher rates of outpatient visits and hospitalizations compared with recent seasons – the vaccination prevented 7.1 million illnesses, 3.7 million medical visits, 109,000 hospitalizations and 8,000 deaths.
Here are some more tips from Rupp:
- It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, so make plans to get vaccinated early in the fall, preferably before the end of October.
- Getting a flu shot protects yourself but also those around you who may be particularly vulnerable to the flu.
- Groups that are at the highest risk from the flu include the elderly, infants and those with chronic medical conditions. If you regularly interact with such people, you can help protect them by getting a flu shot.
See dates and times when flu shots will be administered on your campus this fall:
