An official with District 2 Public Health has urged the public to receive their annual influenza vaccination as North America heads into flu season.
Leyna Mashburn, immunization coordinator with District 2 Public Health, said flu season runs from October through March, but numbers typically peak in January and February.
"This season we are seeing a moderate level already," Mashburn said. "We're at a six out of 13 based on visit clinics in Georgia, with people with flu-like symptoms. And that's a moderate level."
Mashburn said the U.S. predicts the upcoming flu season based on information out of Australia, as they experience flu season earlier due to their location in the southern hemisphere.
"Apparently, Australia has had a doozy of a flu season, so we do expect that ours will be more than it has been, especially the past couple of years," Mashburn said.
The best way to protect yourself ahead of a potentially elevated flu season is by receiving the flu vaccine, according to Mashburn.
"They try to protect what four strains are going to be the most common during the flu season, and they develop the vaccine around those four strains," Mashburn said.
Four flu vaccinations are available to the public. These include a standard quadrivalent shot meant for everybody six months and older, an intranasal flu mist for people ages two to 49 years old, a high dose flu vaccine for adults 65 and older, as well as flu block, an egg-free vaccine that can be given to those 18 and older.
Mashburn said the public can receive their flu vaccination at most doctors' offices and clinics. District 2 Public Health is also offering a series of upcoming drive-thru vaccination events, which you can read about here.
