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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the 2012-2013 flu season is particularly bad. The virus has spread to 47 states and 20 people have died so far this season.
And, CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said, it may get worse over the next several weeks.
This year’s version of the flu is not only especially widespread, but is also considered stronger than previous years. Many people avoid taking flu shots, usually citing a reaction to the shot itself or, especially among older Americans, relying on a pneumonia shot, taken about every five years, to protect them.
Most health professionals, however, still recommend getting an annual flu shot, even if patients have had the pneumonia vaccine.
Further, getting a flu shot doesn’t guarantee you won’t get the flu, but the CDC’s Frieden has said that those who get a shot this year will be far less likely, about 60 percent less likely, to contract the flu.
“What we’ve known for a long time is that the flu vaccine is far from perfect. But it’s still by far the best tool we have to prevent the flu,”Frieden said.