State health officials encourage flu vaccines

As 20 people, including children and the elderly, have already been hospitalized in Wisconsin due to seasonal influenza this flu season, state health officials are encouraging Wisconsin residents to get flu shots to help protect against seasonal influenza.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone aged six months and older should be vaccinated annually. To get your flu shot, contact your health care provider, local public health department or tribal health clinic, or go to www.flu.gov to find a flu vaccination center near you. According to the CDC, influenza vaccine will continue to be shipped to Wisconsin throughout the flu season.

Flu season for Wisconsin generally runs from late October to May, with peak activity around late January or early February. The flu vaccine helps prevent complications that can be caused by the flu, such as pneumonia or hospitalization. Officials recommend that individuals aged six months and older be immunized. Getting vaccinated against influenza is especially important for people aged 50 and older, and those with underlying health conditions. Getting vaccinated is equally important for those who have frequent contact with young children, as children are hospitalized or die from flu complications each year in the U.S.