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Health officials urge flu shots, precautions as illness surges ahead of schedule By Nick Morgan Updated: Nov 29, 2022 04:41 PM A A Fighting flu shot myths State and local health officials recommend residents of the Rogue Valley take steps to stay healthy and mitigate the spread of germs as flu surges across the state. Influenza is spreading rapidly statewide, including in Southern Oregon, according to an email from Oregon Health Authority spokesman Jonathan Modie. “We are seeing early, high levels of influenza activity this season — this is the highest influenza activity observed since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Modie stated. According to Jackson County Public Health spokeswoman Tanya Phillips, this year health officials “are seeing flu circulate sooner and at higher levels earlier than we typically see.” Flu activity typically starts to ramp up in October, reaches a peak between December and February with significant activity lingering until the spring — sometimes as late as May, according to Phillips. Although this year’s flu virus is spreading earlier and more frequently, Phillips said it’s too soon to tell whether it’ll wind down sooner. “We typically see it peak around December and February, but we’ve seen flu peak at different times,” Phillips said. Sometimes the Influenza A dominates in the beginning of the season, and another strain picks up later, according to Phillips. “Sometimes it’s pretty hard to tell,” Phillips said. “And then with COVID, it’s just been different the past few years.” One explanation for the spike, according to Phillips, is that many COVID-19 restrictions are now lifted compared with the past two years. Health officials recommend locals take multiple steps to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, starting with making sure they’re vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, according to Phillips and Modie. Phillips said everyone age 6 months and older should get their yearly flu vaccine. “It’s not too late to get vaccinated,” Phillips said. Phillips said flu vaccines help to reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on the health care system each year. Health officials are predominantly seeing the H3N2 variant, better known as Influenza A right now. She said the strain has “more of an impact on kids” than on older adults. Phillips said she’s not seeing many kids getting flu shots at Jackson County Health and Human Services, but she acknowledged it’s possible they’re getting their shots elsewhere. When asked about this year’s vaccine’s efficacy against Influenza A, Phillips said national reports from the Centers for Disease Control will be ready later this year. “What we know right now is that the flu vaccine is a good match,” Phillips said. According to Oregon Health Authority’s Flu Bites weekly influenza and respiratory virus surveillance report, influenza vaccines across the state are “substantially lower” than either of the past two years. Some 34% of Oregonians vaccinated against COVID-19 between Sept. 1 and Nov. 21 were not yet vaccinated against the flu, according to the Oregon Immunization Program data. Roughly 37% of the adults who received COVID-19 immunizations co-administered their flu shot, another 11% got their flu shot after their COVID vaccine or booster and 18% had received their flu shot before their COVID shot, according to state immunization data. Oregon’s Immunization Program had tracked 930,0000 influenza vaccines administered between July 31 and Nov. 18, according to the state report Monday. Roughly 1 million Oregonians had been vaccinated this time last year, and more than 1.3 million were vaccinated against the flu that week in 2020, according to charts in the two most recent Flu Bites reports. Phillips said some people have received both vaccines simultaneously at county Health and Human Services while others opted to get one at a time. Phillips only recommended people stay current on their immunizations. “Our goal is to definitely get people vaccinated,” Phillips said. “Definitely do it now; don’t delay.” Modie and Phillips each recommended guidelines that include wearing a mask indoors — particularly in schools and child care settings — keeping distance from others in public places; regularly washing hands with soap and water and using hand sanitizer; frequently cleaning high-touch surfaces; and staying home from work or school when you’re sick with mild symptoms. Phillips advised individuals take care to cover their mouths and noses with tissues when coughing or sneezing. As with other respiratory viruses, flu viruses typically spread through droplets caused when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. She further recommended locals get plenty of sleep, stay physically active, manage their stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods and avoid touching their eyes, noses and mouths. Modie recommended anyone at risk for severe illness — children younger than 5, seniors, those with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women — contact their health care provider at the onset of flu-like symptoms because antiviral medications are available to significantly limit the illness’ severity. Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.