Pa. health officials strongly recommend ‘regular’ flu shots to avoid further strain on the healthcare system
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Flu season is ramping up in Pennsylvania amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are being urged to get flu shots to avoid further strain on the healthcare system.
Leaders at the Department of Health and infectious disease specialists are reminding Pennsylvanians to get protected against the flu, even before the season is in full swing.
John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist from UPMC in Harrisburg, said studies show a resurgence of other infectious respiratory diseases following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions such as masking and social distancing.
“With a highly transmissible flu strain dominating and low influence influenza vaccination uptake, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health predictive models indicated the potential for up to a nearly a half million more flu hospitalizations this winter compared to a normal flu season,” Goldman said.
Pennsylvania’s Acting Physician General Denise Johnson says the time to get the shot is now.
“It's really recommended that anyone six months or older, as long as you're not allergic, get your flu shot. And it's important to get that before the flu season really kicks off. And before the flu season really comes to your community so that you're protected,” Johnson said.
The Health Department plans to provide updates on where flu cases have been reported every Tuesday.
Flu shots are available at doctor’s offices, walk-in clinics, pharmacies and grocery stores.