This Year's Flu Data is a Head Scratcher
Nov 19, 2020 | Flu | Share:
Dr. Jordan Vaughn spoke with ABC 33/40 news reporter Andrew Donley about this year’s flu season. This interview first aired on September 29, 2020.
Every year, we get a sneak peek at the upcoming flu season by looking at the data from surveillance sites in the southern hemisphere. This year, there are fewer samples and little to no existence of the flu.
It’s possible that staying away from each other is making it so that there are fewer cases of the flu. Another possibility for the low numbers is that people are staying away from testing sites due to fear of contracting COVID-19.
The CDC is recommending that everyone who is able to should get the flu shot this year.
Data from the southern hemisphere does indicate that individuals who got the flu shot in the fall of 2019, especially individuals who are over 65, had a much lower mortality rate if they contracted coronavirus in the spring. We don’t know why this is, but there is a correlation between the data.
Getting your flu shot in 2020 is more important than ever. Click here to learn more.
Flu shots are now available at all five of our Birmingham MedHelp clinic locations. No appointment is needed for flu shots.