Doctors urge community to get flu shots as season nears

Emily Jaceks
September 17, 2018 07:51 AM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - It's hard to believe, but flu season is once again rearing its ugly head.

“Typically the first cases in the State of New Mexico are in September and October, although the flu season peaks nationwide in February,” Dr. Angela Sanchez, a Family Medicine physician with Lovelace Medical Group said.

But you don't have to take it lying down this year.

Doctors urge community to get flu shots as season nears
“So it’s not too early to get that vaccination and you do retain your immunity through the end of flu season,” Dr. Sanchez said.

Dr. Sanchez said last year was a doozy.

“At one point in time we had 4,000 deaths a week from influenza and influenza-related illnesses,” Dr. Sanchez said.

Most of those deaths were people who skipped out on their yearly shots, a cocktail of what scientists think will be the top four strains of flu virus.

“So it sounds like it's a game to sort out which will be the circulating viruses, but it actually, with good science, works,” Dr. Sanchez said.

While it's hard to predict just how hard the virus will hit this year, One thing is for sure...

“You cannot get the flu from a flu shot,” Dr. Sanchez said.

Dr. Sanchez said when it comes to children, the flu mist is no longer an option. The American Association of Pediatrics found it’s not as effective.

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