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Posted by John Jacob, a health communications writer and editor at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
This week's flu report (Word, PDF) shows that we are continuing to see elevated flu activity across the state and are now at "moderate" activity for the first time this season.
Getting vaccinated continues to be the best – and easiest – way to keep you and your family healthy this flu season. And it's not too late – flu rates typically don't peak until late February or March. There's still plenty of flu vaccine available, so call your health care provider to set up an appointment — or find a local flu clinic at www.mylocalclinic.com. In the meantime, we hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!
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This week my whole family and most people I know in MA are experiencing the flu. Body aches ( in the hips, legs and whole body pain),fever of 103 and above. We all got the flu shot as soon as it became available and still got the flu. Can you please looking into this people are very sick and no one has investigated why we are all getting the flu even though we got vaccinated. Is it a different strain or did the vaccine just not work? Can someone please investigate this because now most people have become suspect about the validity of the vaccine it’s self now. Thank you! Lisa Caron DPH RESPONDS: We have received a lot of questions about this year’s vaccine and thought it might be helpful to folks to walk through why some people may still get sick even if they have been vaccinated. Check out our latest blog post for this information and let us know if you have any questions! http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/2013/01/can-you-still-get-the-flu-even-if-you-have-been-vaccinated.html
With Influenza A on the rise, how well vaccinated are the people who got the 2012-2013 Flu shot this year? Thanks, Andria DPH RESPONDS: Thanks for your question. Each year, DPH sends a subset of specimens tested at the State Laboratory to the CDC to identify the flu viruses and determine whether they are consistent with what is included in this season’s flu vaccine. So far this season, CDC has tested three specimens from Massachusetts and all three specimens were consistent with viruses included in the vaccine. Nationally, 91% of the influenza specimens tested by CDC have been consistent with viruses included in the vaccine.
Is the strain of flu different from the one the vaccine was created for? I heard that on the news today. Rosemary Olson DPH RESPONDS: Thanks for your question. A lot of people have been asking about this so we thought it would be helpful to walk through why some people may still get sick after being vaccinated. Check out our latest blog post and let us know if you have any more questions! http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/2013/01/can-you-still-get-the-flu-even-if-you-have-been-vaccinated.html