America’s health experts have been looking to the southern hemisphere for indications of what the upcoming 2022-2023 flu season will bring. What they have seen has led them to predict this year’s flu season could be the worst in the last five years.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently told Bloomberg, “The Southern Hemisphere has had a pretty bad flu season, and it came on early. Influenza, as we all have experienced it over many years, can be a serious disease—particularly when you have a bad season.”
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last year’s influenza activity was much lower than the pre-pandemic levels. A new report points to COVID-19 precautions as a large contributor to those lower numbers.
However, with the anticipated changes for this year, Greene County public dealth is urging residents to get their flu shots, and to get them early. “We follow the CDC guidelines and recommend a flu vaccination for anyone 6 months or older, with very few exceptions,” says public health director, Becky Wolf. “We are also recommending that individuals get vaccinated as soon as possible for protection through the peak of the flu season.”
Public health is working to make the vaccination process as easy as possible. Clinics for both the flu and COVID vaccines are being held in their offices on Level B at the clinic entrance of Greene County Medical Center Thursdays from 9 am to noon and again from 1 to 4 pm. There will also be a drive-through clinic on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 6:30 pm at Clover Hall on the Greene County Fairgrounds.
Appointments are required for clinic and drive-thru clinics. For more information or to sign up for an appointment, call Greene County Public Health at 515-386-3228 or go to https://hipaa.jotform.com/203558336058156 and simply fill out and submit the form.
