Doctors say a typical flu season in Oklahoma usually runs from October to May.
Flu activity, which has been increasing since the start of November, is now higher than usual for this time of year, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the case of H3N2, the vaccine component has been genetically altered somewhat as a result of the manufacturing process, which involves growing vast quantities of the virus in eggs.
But she added that a 10 percent effectiveness rate still seems a bit low.
After receiving vaccine donations from civic organizations, the CDC on Friday last week announced the plan to administer government-funded vaccines to infants born after January 1 who are older than 12 months after January 1 next year. Some flu shots protect against three flu viruses and some protect against four flu viruses.
It is impossible to contract a case of flu from the vaccine.
Laura Spicer, Executive Director Valley Health, "Thousands of people get sick from the flu each year".
But healthcare providers say you should still get the flu shot.
"A lot of times the virus will spread more rapidly now than in other times of the year", Dr. Sachdev said. "It's best to get it now and not wait until the flu is more widespread", Beard said.
Flu season is building momentum in ME, with both outpatient medical visits and hospitalizations on the rise. At best, flu can knock you down for a couple of days, at worst, it can kill.
Despite those misgivings, she encourages the elderly and those with underlying heart and lung conditions or with suppressed immune systems, who are vulnerable to influenza and its complications, to get their shot to obtain "all the protection you can get".
But she said it's too early to predict what strain will predominate or how severe the season will be. As part of the series, Joan Mann also discusses how her adult daughter, Kendra, sadly succumbed to the flu at age 35.
Families Fighting Flu announces the availability of a new video series on the importance of annual flu vaccination for seniors.
Dr. Marc Siegel is an infectious diseases expert from NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "And that may dampen down the contribution of H3N2 this season, which would be a good thing".
"If you're not excited about getting vaccinated yourself, do it for the people you love", Mills said.
Clark County has confirmed one flu-related death so far this season in Las Vegas and surrounding areas.