The state health department is still encouraging you to get a flu shot.
“The flu is really contagious because it’s spread by droplets,” Dr. Rachel Levine, Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, said. “So if someone sneezes or coughs, those droplets could be in the air around them and then everyone that’s within that room could be exposed to the flu. If they haven’t gotten their flu shot then they could catch it.”
Levine says people who have the flu are advised to stay home, especially this time of year, to help prevent spreading the virus and to improve recovery time.
She says getting the flu can be an inconvenience for most healthy adults but for infants, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems, it could be deadly. She says even vaccines with a lower effectiveness, like last years, can still be beneficial.
“The other reason it is important to get a flu shot is even if you do get the flu, the symptoms will be milder and you’ll have less complications,” she said.
You’re always encouraged to wash your hands as frequently as possible, especially while visiting family and friends over the holidays.
