Flu Map for Week Before Thanksgiving Shows Mostly Sporadic

[MineralMan]

activity. The Flu is regional in Oregon and Kentucky. There's not enough information yet to see how well the vaccine is protecting people.

During Thanksgiving week, people traveled by air in very, very high numbers. Expect the map to change soon, with more states reporting regional outbreaks. By Christmas, there should be enough cases to ensure that all air travelers will be exposed to one of the strains in circulation. Then, the statistics will begin to increase in most states, evening out the prevalence of the illness.

According to current reporting, the prevailing strain is Type A (H1N1).

The point is that there is still time to get protected with a vaccination. I highly recommend it for everyone, but especially for elders and young children.

Here's a link to the map and additional information:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

[Wounded Bear]

1. Got my shuflot weeks ago...

[MineralMan]

2. Good job. I got mine on October 3.

[SouthernLiberal]

8. Me too!

Very easy and painless. Much better than getting the flu

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. Yup. I waited too long and got it for the first time in years

Missed a week of work and I don't get paid sick leave. Get that shot!

[Aristus]

4. Anti-vaxxer concern trolls showing up in this thread in 3...2...1...

It's like trying to eradicate crabgrass...

I went eighteen rounds with a patient on Wednesday about getting his flu shot. He refused, saying he didn't trust the science behind immunization. Finally, in an inspired moment, I asked him: "You trust me, right?" (he's been coming to see me for about five years now).

"Sure."

"Well, I trust the science. Do as I'm advising you and get your flu shot."

He finally agreed.

I can't believe how much anti-vaxx bullshit there is out there...

[3catwoman3]

6. "Do you accept patients who don't vaccinate?" has been a common...

...question that parents ask when interviewing a prospective pediatric practice. For many years, those asking that question were parents who did not want to vaccinate at all, or follow some altered schedule.

That question is still being asked, but the focus is shifting. Now, parents are asking that question because they don’t want their children sitting in the waiting room next to an unvaccinated child. This is of particular concern to parents of infants too young to have been fully vaccinated, or kids with immune system problems or on chemo for malignancies, in whom the immunizations are truly contraindicated.

The peds practice where I work is part of an 11 practice consortium. One of the big topics of discussion just now amongst the practices is not accepting any new families are who do not vaccinate. Not only this, but also dismissing existing families who do not. There is, from what my bosses tell me, potential legal liability if a child who cannot be immunized, because of newborn or immunocompromized status, contracts one of the “childhood diseases” in our waiting room and has an untoward outcome.

[3catwoman3]

5. According to a June 8, 2018 CDC report, 172 pediatric...

...deaths were attributed to influenza. Some 80% had not been vaccinated.

[MustLoveBeagles]

7. I got mine around October 10th

They were set up in the Auditorium in the basement of my workplace. I work for the state. It only took about 10 minutes.

[ck4829]

9. Kick