The flu season is currently at its peak in Massachusetts. It could last another three to four months. For those who have gotten the flu this winter, symptoms have included fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, and muscle aches and pains, which can last up to two weeks.
This year’s flu vaccine, though not a direct match for the flu strain, has helped reduce the severity of the flu and protected others from contracting it. Fortunately, you can still get vaccinated now to protect yourself and those around you for the remainder of the season.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is reporting very high and rising levels of influenza activity statewide as the state moves through the peak season.
Local experts believe a combination of factors is driving the higher numbers. This year’s strain of the flu appears to be more contagious. It is only partially matched by the current vaccine and is compounded by a drop in vaccination rates, about 36% this year compared to 40% last year.
For Marblehead, our vaccination rate is 49.1%, higher than the state average. But there is still room for improvement.
While the flu strain in the United States is different from the strain in this year’s vaccine, data from other countries suggest the vaccine is still helpful, Board of Health member Dr. Amanda Ritvo noted recently.
“While this year’s flu vaccine appears to be a strain mismatch, early data from the U.K. show meaningful protection, with vaccine effectiveness reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations by approximately 72-75% in children and adolescents (<18) and 32–39% in adults,” she noted.
An annual flu vaccine remains the most important public health measure for preventing illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths from the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine may have significantly reduced the influenza burden, preventing 240,000 hospitalizations, 12 million illnesses and 5.7 million hospital visits.
The Board of Health follows the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in recommending vaccinations for those 6 months of age or older who do not have a medical condition that could cause the vaccine to be harmful to the patient.
Marblehead’s Public Health Director Andrew Petty has stressed the importance of staying up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccines for those 6 months or older.
“Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe disease, including adults age 65 years and older, children between 6 months and 2 years old, people with chronic respiratory conditions or heart disease, individuals who are immunocompromised and people who are pregnant,” he said. “Vaccination also helps protect family members, coworkers and others in the community who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.”
The Marblehead Health Department intends to post important information on the flu on its website to help keep citizens informed.
Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein recently noted that spending time indoors and around larger groups increases the likelihood of exposure to respiratory viruses. The following everyday measures can help prevent illness, he noted:
• Staying up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations
• Washing hands frequently with soap and water
• Staying home when sick
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings, especially if you or a loved one is at higher risk.
Is it too late to get vaccinated this year? The answer is no, according to Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School.
Sax said it takes a few weeks for the full benefits of the flu vaccine to build up, which is why health care providers recommend getting the vaccine early in the season. But because flu season can last through March or April, there’s still “plenty of winter to go,” he added.
Help protect yourself, our community, families, friends, classmates and co-workers by vaccinating before the season ends. In Marblehead, CVS and Village Pharmacy offer vaccinations. Visit vaccinefinder.org to find other locations in the area.
While the vaccine doesn’t help prevent anyone from contracting the flu, it can help reduce the severity of its symptoms. It’s a way to protect yourself and contribute to the good health of the Marblehead community.
