PLANS. WLWT NEWS 5’S MEREDITH STUTZ IS LIVE WITH THEIR REQUEST AND HOW THE EFFECTIVE THIS YEAR’S FLU SHOTS ARE PROVING TO BE. MEGAN: WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THE LATEST ACCURATE INFORMATION WE HAVE FROM DOCTORS IN THE AREA. I SPOKE WITH 3 LOCAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTORS AT HOSPITALS ACROSS OUR AREA, .AND ALL AGREE, IT’S GOING TO BE A BAD FLU SEASON. THE PEAK SHOULD COME SOONER THAN USUAL. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE FEW CASES IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA BUT TO QUOTE ONE DOCTOR IT’S COMING, .AND MAY BE COMING SOONER THAN USUAL. ALL THREE SAY THEY PREDICT A BAD FLU SEASON BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING AT EARLY DATA OUT OF PARTS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH WHERE THE FLU IS STARTING TO POP UP. BUT EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS DATA OUT OF AUSTRALIA. IT HAD A REALLY BAD FLU SEASON WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CASES,MAINLY FOCUSED ON INFLUENZA A. BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST COMING OUT OF THEIR WINTER MONTHS IT IS USED A FORECAST FOR US AT HOME. DOCTORS, INCLUDING DR. CARL FICTENBAUM WITH U.C. HEALTH, SAYS HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE PEAK OF FLU SEASON WON’T BE JANUARY OR FEBRUARY BUT POTENIALLY DECEMBER. DOCTORS SAYS BECAUSE OUR GENERAL IMMUNITY LEVELS ARE LOWER AND THAT MAKES US SUSEPTIBLE FOR MORE FLU CASES MORE QUICKLY. THAT’S WHY, IF YOU’RE WANTING TO GET A FLU SHOT, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO. DR. FICTENBAUM SAYS THIS YEAR’S SHOT IS 50% EFFECTIVE WHICH HE SAYS IS GOOD. >> BUT I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT THIS IS A STANDARD KIND OF EFFECTIVENESS THAT WE’VE SEEN FOR FLU VACCINATIONS FOR THREE DECADES. SO YOU KNOW, OUR FLU VACCINES HAVE NEVER BEEN 90 95% EFFECTIVE. THEY RARELY HAVE BEEN 75% EFFECTIVE. YET. WE HAVE MANY, MANY STUDIES DEMONSTRATING THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING FROM IT. AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GET SICK FROM IT ARE VASTLY DECREASED. WHEN WE GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED. KELLY: RIGHT NOW, DR. FICHTENBAUM PREDICTS CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY TARGETED TO HAVE A BAD FLU SEASON AS WELL. SAYING THAT MUCH OF FLU SPREAD CAN HAPPEN WITH KIDS AT SCHOOL AND DAYCARE AND ENCOURAGES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO GET THEIR FREE FLU SHOTS IF POSSIBLE. COMING UP AT 6:30, WE HEAR FROM ANOTHER DOCTOR WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT VACCINE COMPLACENC

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Indiana Department of Health reports first 2 flu-related deaths of flu season, urges vaccinations

Updated: 11:33 AM EDT Nov 2, 2023

Fletcher Keel

The Indiana Department of Health has reported the first two flu-related deaths of the 2023/24 flu season.Health officials did not give any information regarding the deaths, including age or location, citing privacy laws.According to IDOH, more than 270 Indiana residents died after contracting the flu during last year’s flu season, which typically runs from October through May.“Influenza can quickly become a serious, even life-threatening illness for some Hoosiers,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, in a press release. “While no two flu seasons are exactly alike, we always recommend getting an annual flu shot as soon as possible to provide the best protection against becoming seriously ill.”IDOH is urging Hoosiers to get vaccinated this flu season, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone aged 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine each year.According to health officials, common flu symptoms include: fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher cough sore throat headache fatigue muscle aches runny or stuffy noseTo keep up with the latest flu statistics in Indiana this flu season, visit the IDOH’s influenza dashboard.

, Ind. —

The Indiana Department of Health has reported the first two flu-related deaths of the 2023/24 flu season.

Health officials did not give any information regarding the deaths, including age or location, citing privacy laws.

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According to IDOH, more than 270 Indiana residents died after contracting the flu during last year’s flu season, which typically runs from October through May.

“Influenza can quickly become a serious, even life-threatening illness for some Hoosiers,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, in a press release. “While no two flu seasons are exactly alike, we always recommend getting an annual flu shot as soon as possible to provide the best protection against becoming seriously ill.”

IDOH is urging Hoosiers to get vaccinated this flu season, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone aged 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine each year.

According to health officials, common flu symptoms include:

• fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• cough
• sore throat
• headache
• fatigue
• muscle aches
• runny or stuffy nose

To keep up with the latest flu statistics in Indiana this flu season, visit the IDOH’s influenza dashboard.