ARKANSAS, USA — Arkansas health officials are encouraging vaccines as flu season arrives.
While the flu is in Arkansas year-round, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) said it typically increases in the fall and peaks in January.
"This is also true of other respiratory viruses, including COVID and RSV," Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, the director of the ADH, said.
Dr. Dillaha said the state is at a minimal flu level.
"I'm hearing reports from doctors that it is circulating, but right now, the levels are minimal, so it's an ideal time to get your flu shot if you haven't gotten one already," Dr. Dillaha said.
According to ADH's weekly viral respiratory diseases report, Arkansas saw the first flu death of 2024 this week. They added that COVID-19 claimed 22 lives for a total of 412 Covid-related deaths this year.
"The value of the vaccines is they can keep you from having severe illness and ending up in the hospital, and they can help you survive the illness rather than die from it," Dr. Dillaha explained.
Dr. Dillaha recommended everyone ages 6 months and older to receive a primary covid vaccine series, based off of the CDC's recommendations. If you've already received your primary vaccine, she said to receive the updated covid vaccine targeting the jn.1 lineage of the Omicron variant. She also recommended everyone 6 months and older to receive the updated flu vaccine, protecting against 3 different flu viruses.
"With the respiratory viruses, humans do not develop permanent immunity. The immunity wanes over time, so they can get the flu or COVID-19, RSV again during their life," Dr. Dillaha said.
"In addition, the virus mutates. So the virus that you see or might be exposed to this year would be somewhat different than what you might have been exposed to last year," Dr. Dillaha said.
She recommends anyone to get tested if you do end up with a feeling that is more than just the sniffles, or as Dr. Dillaha described "like they've been run over by a truck." There's medicine for anyone infected, but it might change your plans.
"We're encouraging people, if they are ill, to please stay home and visit with their families later, and we're encouraging people to reduce the risk that they would get ill and possibly spread the illness by getting vaccinated," Dr. Dillaha said.
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