MADISON, Wis. — Cold and flu season is underway in Wisconsin, with respiratory viruses getting an earlier-than-usual start this year. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported influenza activity is low but increasing.
Dr. Jim Conway, medical director of the UW Health Immunization Program and an infectious disease physician, called respiratory viruses “unpredictable.”
“We are used to thinking of them as things that cause major problems for people with underlying medical conditions, but if you look at the last couple years, you know, more than half the kids that died from influenza were completely healthy, normal kids,” he said.
He estimated only about 1 in 5 Wisconsin residents have had a flu shot this fall, and noted the numbers are even lower for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Statewide, DHS data confirmed 20.3% of Wisconsinites have received a flu vaccine so far for this respiratory season. DHS data showed that number is even lower for this season’s COVID-19 vaccines, which is 7.4%.
With people gathering soon for the holidays, he recommended getting vaccinated now.
“We’re going to be all out there traveling and hugging and kissing our friends and relatives around the holiday season. That’s the perfect scenario for people to spread these viruses,” Conway warned.
Watch the full interview above.
Source: spectrumnews1.com
