County public health officials are reminding everyone, parÂticularly families with children and teenagers, that it is not too late to get the flu vaccine.
This flu season, which is beÂtween fall and winter, three teenagers have died from the flu. None were vaccinated.
In San Diego County, nearly 80 percent of 5- to 17-year-olds have not received this flu seaÂson’s vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot yearly since the components of the vaccine change year to year to match the circulating strains.
The influenza vaccine is availÂable at doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies and is covered by medical insurance. People with no health care coverage can get vaccinated at one of the CounÂty’s six public health centers or a local community clinic. To find the nearest location, visit the County’s Flu Vaccine LocaÂtions page, myturn.ca.gov, or call 2-1-1 San Diego.
In addition to getting vacciÂnated, people should also do the following to avoid getting sick:
- Wash hands thoroughly and often
- Use hand sanitizers, if unable to wash hands
- Stay away from sick people
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Clean commonly touched surfaces
- If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others
County Health and HuÂman Services Agency pubÂlishes the Respiratory ViÂruses Surveillance report, which tracks key flu, COVID-19, and RSV indicators and summarizes respiratory virus surveillance in the region.
In total, there have been 73 people who have died from the flu this flu season. Most were people 50 years and older.
Reprinted courtesy San Diego County Office of Communications.
