Hoosier health officials say get your flu shot soon

Dec. 12—Indiana health and hospital officials are encouraging eligible Hoosiers to get vaccinated against flu as soon as possible, as high levels of transmission are significantly affecting hospitals across the state.

As of the week ending Dec. 3, Indiana has recorded 24 influenza deaths this season.

Also, the state's first pediatric flu death of the season was recorded last week and will be reflected on the flu report posted Dec. 16. No additional information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws, the state health department said.

"Like many states, Indiana is experiencing very high levels of flu activity right now," Dr. Kris Box, state health commissioner, said in a news release.

"With the upcoming holidays, travel and family gatherings, it is more important than ever to protect yourself and those around you from this highly contagious respiratory infection," Box said.

With many respiratory illnesses currently circulating, including flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19, Indiana hospitals are experiencing significant patient caseloads, said Indiana Hospital Association President Brian Tabor.

"Hospitalizations are currently trending above last year's levels, and at this pace, Indiana could meet or exceed the record levels of inpatient capacity we saw during the peak of COVID-19," Tabor said.

"As of this week, inpatient volume jumped 15 percent, with numbers surpassing 11,000."

Tabor and Box urged Hoosiers to seek routine testing for respiratory illnesses or care for mild symptoms through urgent care centers or a family physician's office rather than through emergency rooms.

"Our hospitals are dealing with the triple impact of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 right now, along with normal emergencies and illnesses, and we want to keep emergency rooms clear for Hoosiers who urgently need them," Box said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year.

It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies, which protect against flu, to develop in the body. The flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the new COVID-19 booster, which protects against two strains of COVID-19, including new subvariants, Box said.

Influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is spread by respiratory droplets released when infected people cough or sneeze nearby or when people touch surfaces or objects contaminated with those infectious respiratory droplets.

Common signs include fever of 100 degrees or greater, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose.

People can help prevent the spread of flu by washing their hands frequently and thoroughly, avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth with their hands, and staying home when sick. Hoosiers should practice the "Three Cs" to help prevent the spread of flu and other infectious diseases:

Clean: Properly wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water.

Cover: Cover your cough and sneeze with your arm or a disposable tissue.

Contain: Stay home from school or work when you are sick to keep your germs from spreading.

To learn more about influenza or to view the IDOH weekly flu report, which is updated each Friday, go to www.in.gov/isdh/22104.htm