Flu has been on a roller coaster, but mostly on the upswing since the end of December.
After rising at the end of December, then declining in early January, flu in Northern California has increased during the past 2 weeks. It’s currently at high levels.
Flu-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits, especially among children, increased after the holidays. The levels are not as high as last year at the same time.
A new flu strain and a decrease in flu vaccinations are among the culprits, said Connie Park, MD, clinical flu lead for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.
“We are dealing with a very busy flu season,” Dr. Park said. “Flu rates have shot up with an early, high intensity surge, and it remains to be seen whether they have peaked or not. A new flu variant is to blame as well as low vaccination rates.”
Dr. Park recommends seeking care right away so receiving treatment — Tamiflu — is an option. Tamiflu works best within 2 days of experiencing symptoms, but it is still beneficial later.
Unlike in previous seasons, COVID-19 cases have been low so far this season. RSV cases are slowly rising. There’s also a vaccine against RSV for certain populations, which has helped curb the spread.
It’s not too late to get vaccinated
Last year’s flu season saw the highest number of flu-related pediatric deaths since 2004 (outside of the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic). This statistic can be prevented this season if more people get vaccinated against the flu, Dr. Park said. The flu season can last until May, so there’s still time to get vaccinated.
Getting the flu shot helps prevent hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The flu vaccine is recommended annually for everyone 6 months and older. Even when the vaccine is not a good match with the strain or strains circulating, it still helps prevent severe illness, Dr. Park added.
In Northern California, only about 34% of Kaiser Permanente members have been vaccinated against the flu so far this season, as of January 28.
“We are still seeing declines in our vaccination rates, and some of it is because people don’t trust vaccines,” Dr. Park said. “I want to remind everyone that flu vaccines are safe and are a very effective tool to prevent severe complications of the flu.”
To get the flu vaccine, go to kp.org/flu.
