- Two free drive-through flu vaccine clinics will be open this weekend
- Lehigh Valley Health Network will hold its annual event Nov. 4 at Dorney Park and Nov. 5 at its Hecktown Oaks campus
- Doctors say now is the time to get the shot, as the season ramps up
SALISBURY TWP., Pa. — This flu season should be a little quieter than last year's, according to a Lehigh Valley doctor.
No new strains or increases in activity are expected, but the physician said people still should get flu shots.
“I think it's going to be a typical flu season,” said Dr. Alex Benjamin, chief infection control and prevention Officer at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
“We're not seeing things in the southern hemisphere like a new strain or any sort of increased activity, despite people getting flu shots. So I think the efficacy is there again, as it has been year after year for the flu vaccine.”
"I don't think we're gonna see as many cases as quickly as we did last year.”Dr. Alex Benjamin, chief Infection Control and Prevention officer, LVHN
Benjamin said this year cases do not seem as severe as they were at this time in 2022 following repercussions from the coronavirus pandemic.
“After last year, I think now, in a sense, we almost feel better because I think that sort of natural immunity has been restored to our area. And so I don't think we're gonna see as many cases as quickly as we did last year.”
LVHN will hold two free drive-through flu vaccine clinics this weekend.
On Nov. 4, Saturday, people can drive through and get their shot at Dorney Park in South Whitehall Township, and on Sunday, Nov. 5 they can do that at LVHN’s Hecktown Oaks location in Lower Nazareth Township.
Benjamin said now is the time to get the shot as the season ramps up.
'Sort of in the middle'
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website, Pennsylvania has minimal flu activity, but the state Health Department page shows a very mixed picture when it comes to cases.
It shows a decent amount of activity in the southwest part of the state, south of Pittsburgh.
“In the Lehigh Valley, we're sort of in the middle, meaning we're not the undetectable cases of flu. We are seeing those [cases] and we're sort of in the middle of somewhere between eight and 15 cases per 100,000.”Dr. Alex Benjamin, chief Infection Control and Prevention officer at Lehigh Valley Health Network
“In the Lehigh Valley, we're sort of in the middle, meaning we're not the undetectable cases of flu," Benjamin said. "We are seeing those [cases] and we're sort of in the middle of somewhere between eight and 15 cases per 100,000.”
He said people should try to space out their flu vaccine and COVID-19 shots if possible.
He said a study published by the FDA looked at patients who got the combination in 2022 and saw a higher risk of stroke among people 65 and older who got both shots at the same time.
“We have to remember a couple different things about this year," he said.
"Last year was that bivalent shot. This year, we have a different updated shot that's a single strain coverage, so maybe that has something to do with it.
"Getting influenza, getting COVID infections, both of those also increase your risk of stroke.”
Benjamin said people still should get vaccinated against both diseases, just spaced out if possible. In some cases, if a patient will not receive follow up care, a doctor may vaccinate for both in one day.
Those heading to the LVHN flu clinics this weekend can just show up, but they also can go online and fill out paperwork ahead of time to make those process go faster.
Free shots will be provided to everyone older than six months old, and those over the age of 65 can get the high-dose influenza shot.
LVHN also will collect canned goods for those in need during the clinics if people would like to make a donation.
