The new flu vaccine is here and health care offices across the state are encouraging residents to come in and get vaccinated. South Dakota already has four confirmed cases of influenza this year. As SDPB’s Cassie Bartlett reports, South Dakotans need to be proactive in preventing the flu.
Over half of South Dakotans received the flu vaccination last year, which was the highest rate in the nation. Dr. Lon Kightlinger is the state epidemiologist. A few years ago, health officials were selective with giving out the shot because there was a vaccination shortage. But this year, Kightlinger says everyone should get the vaccine. He says not getting vaccinated only increases the chances of catching the flu virus.
“If you don’t get the vaccine, you’re just setting yourself wide open to really get sick. Now the vaccine isn’t a perfect vaccine and it has to be recreated every year because the virus is always changing. Some years, the efficacy is much better than others, but still, the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself,” Kightlinger says.
Some symptoms of influenza include fever, sore throat, runny nose and muscle aches. Kightlinger says the spread of the flu is also prevented by washing hands regularly and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue. For South Dakota Public Broadcasting, I’m Cassie Bartlett.