Crystal Wells is doing everything she can to not get sick this year, and that includes getting her flu shot.
"I don't want to be in big crowds. Definitely don't want to catch anything from anybody else," said Wells of Delran, New Jersey.
Pharmacist Sharon Maher gives out hundreds of flu shots each season here at Paramount Drug in Riverside, though over the last few years, she's seen fewer and fewer patients coming in for the shot.
"When they are coming in, their concerns seem to have been COVID more than the flu. Sometimes we got them back for the flu and sometimes we didn't," said Maher.
Now to the rise in flu cases in our area
which is sparking concern. Experts say
early signs point to a harsh flu season
in the US once again this year. Doctors
around the globe are keeping their eye
on a new strain that popped up causing
unprecedented outbreaks overseas. Action
News reporter Trish Hartman talked to
health leaders in South Jersey with what
they're seeing so far this season. Here
in New Jersey, cases of the flu are
starting to rise, according to the New
Jersey Department of Health, and
hospitalizations are beginning to
increase for flu, COVID, and RSV. Plus,
experts are tracking a new subvariant of
the flu that could impact this year's
flu season. Crystal Wells is doing
everything she can not to get sick this
year.
>> It's in your muscle. Just use a cold
compress 10 minutes.
>> And that includes getting her flu shot.
>> I don't want to be in big crowds and
definitely don't want to catch anything
from anybody else. Pharmacist Sharon
Mayer gives out hundreds of flu shots
each season here at Paramount Drug in
Riverside. Though over the past few
years, she's seen fewer and fewer
patients coming in for the shot.
>> When they are coming in, their concerns
seem to have been COVID more than flu.
Um, and sometimes we got them back here
for the flu and sometimes we didn't.
Right now, CDC data shows flu cases are
low here at the beginning of the season,
but last year was a high severity flu
season with the highest hospitalization
rate since 2010 into 2011. This year,
there's a new subvariant subclave K
that's causing spikes in other
countries.
>> The United Kingdom and Japan have seen
an earlier start to their flu seasons
than is uh typical or normal for them.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Judith
O'Donnell says while this new variant
isn't included in this year's flu shot,
she says it's a mutation of influenza A
and the shot will still be helpful.
>> Even if it's not a perfect match to the
vaccine strain, the vaccines we know
provide protective immunity in
particular immunity um and protection
from severe infection that would require
like hospitalization or um ICU stays.
And with Thanksgiving coming up next
week, Dr. O'Donnell advises get your flu
shot now if you haven't already. Family
gatherings are prime environments to
spread illness along with holiday cheer.
Reporting in Riverside, New Jersey,
Trish Hartman, Channel 6 Action News.
