OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — We are currently in the middle of two seasons, fall and flu seasons. After many cases of influenza the last two flu seasons in Nebraska, health officials are warning people to get their flu shots early.
"Flu season has already started, so we all need to start getting our vaccinations," says Renuga Uivekanandan, MD at CHI Health. That's why flu shots are now available, which can help protect those who may not be able to protect themselves.
"Young kids, their immune system is still developing, elderly patients as we get older our immune system is weakening, so every year the majority of the group that gets severe influenza infections are the young kids or the elderly patients over the age of 65," says Uivekanandan.
Another group is also raising some concern after a recent report. "The C.D.C. has found a high percentage of pregnant women are not getting vaccinated and they are at very high risk of getting severely ill," says Anne O'Keefe of the Douglas County Health Department.
Both experts say getting the flu shot is the best way to prevent yourself from getting sick. "The vaccine has been updated this past year so this year we will have a new strain of both of influenza A," says O'Keefe.
Even if you think the flu shot is ineffective it's still important to get it according to Uivekanandan. "Even if the stains don't match in the vaccines by getting the vaccine youre priming your body to be able to fight the virus when it comes into contact."
