It's that time of year again. No, not to turn your clocks back an hour (that happens in a few weeks). Health experts say now is the time to get your flu shot.
Wichita State student Gavin Finney says he's not planning to get one, even though the university provides them to students for only ten dollars. Only a small percentage of people his age do.
Whether it's an aversion to needles or just not thinking it's important, the Sedgwick County Health Department's Beverly Stewart says it's a decision that affects everyone around you. She says young and middle-aged people need to especially realize that.
"It's a concern, because that age group is the group that's out in the community the most to spread it to others," Stewart says.
This year's vaccine contains protection against two different strains going around. Experts also remind peopel that just because the last flu season was mild, doesn't mean this one will be too.
Flu vaccination is recommended for virtually everyone older than 6 months of age.
Doctors say immunizations are especially important for expectant mothers. If they get the flu, they're more likely to get severly ill and have a miscarriage or have the baby early.
With 135 million doses in the United States, there's plenty of vaccine to go around. Least year, just 42 percent or 128 million Americans were immunized.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report between 1976 and 2007, up to 49,000 people have died from influenza. Ninety percent of deaths during a typical seasonal flu season occur to people older than 65.
