Is it too late to get a flu shot in Mississippi? Here’s what to know this winter
During cold and flu season, it’s better to be safe so you aren’t sorry. Take every precaution to keep yourself healthy.
One such precaution is the flu shot, and it is not too late to get one. There have been an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations due to flu this season and that number is predicted to grow as the season moves on.
Experts say this year’s flu is one of the worst in a while.
Take this flu seriously this season
The flu season started in October and is hitting people harder than in recent years. It’s catching some people off guard as Mississippi residents exit the holiday season and enter into a month of severe winter weather.
If you are one of the lucky ones and haven’t been sick so far this season, and have yet to get your flu shot, it is still beneficial to get it.
Top reasons to get a flu shot
Flu season runs through May, so getting vaccinated now can still offer months of protection.
It can reduce your risk of flu-related ICU admission by 26% and flu-related death by 31%.
Flu vaccines typically reduce the risk of illness by 40-60%.
It may lead to a shorter, more manageable illness.
It protects the more vulnerable population like children, the elderly, people with chronic conditions and pregnant women.
It reduces cardiac events in people with heart disease and hospitalizations for people with diabetes (by 79%) and chronic lung disease (by 52%).
You can get a flu shot at many local pharmacy chains like CVS or Walgreens, Mississippi State Department of Health, some grocery stores or markets, the Harrison County Department of Health and your primary care physician.
The effectiveness of the flu vaccine can vary from year to year, but experts say it is still the most efficient tool for preventing influenza and potentially severe complications.
Wash those hands, and stay home if you feel sick.
This story was originally published January 13, 2025 at 8:37 AM.
