Flu rates are up but vaccines are down - KSNB

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Flu numbers reach new heights each day, but vaccination rates are not keeping up.

Officials at Central District Health Department do not have an official percentage of vaccination rates, but say they are close to the national average of 14%. The department said there could be a couple of reasons why the rates are down.

“Maybe because we didn’t have much flu last year,” said Teresa Anderson, Health Director at Central District Health Department. “Maybe it’s because people are tired of hearing about these viruses. We do know that the vaccine that we have this year for influenza is as effective as it’s been in any other year, it may not keep you from getting the flu.”

Anderson said the vaccine won’t prevent an individual from getting the flu but they are still the best solution.

“What we know is that some people may think that the vaccine doesn’t work because they still got the flu,” said Anderson. “What we know about that is that it’s not 100% effective against getting the flu. What it does protect us against is getting seriously ill and being hospitalized.”

Anderson says the the same applies to getting a COVID booster because they target specific variants.

“The vaccines are targeting the specific variants or viruses, that causes to be ill. Home remedies can be helpful, some work better than others,” said Anderson. “We really know that taking these measures of getting vaccinated, washing your hands, staying home when your sick. These are things that really help us.”

Anderson specified how the COVID booster and flu vaccine can work together allowing them to create antibodies to fight off the viruses. She also says home remedies shouldn’t be something people use as a substitute for getting vaccine.

“If you get sick then cold medicine or flu medicine may be effective to help reduce the symptoms the better way to about this is to get your vaccinations so that you probably won’t need those medications,” said Anderson.

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Flu rates are up but vaccines are down - KSNB
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