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Doctors still recommend flu vaccine

By Donnie Burgess

Posted February 14, 2025

(Pixabay)

Medical professionals still recommend the flu vaccine, although the best time for the shot is fall.

The state’s current flu activity is listed by the Indiana Department of Health as “very high.”

There have been 57 Hoosiers who died from flu-related illness since last fall. One death occurred this week.

The health department’s flu dashboard shows eight deaths in Marion County and ten in Lake County. It’s unclear where the other deaths happened because the dashboard only reflects counties with more than five flu-related deaths.

Forty-one people age 65 and older have died; 11 people age 50-64 have died, and five people age 25-49 have died.

In an email to WFIU/WTIU News, the Monroe County Health Department said the flu vaccine remains vital for fighting symptoms: “While the best protection for the flu is to get the shot early in the season, September or by the end of October, getting it later can still be beneficial. Flu activity peaks in February.”

However, the peak is not the end.

Tom Hrisomalos, an infectious disease doctor at Indiana University Health, said in an email that the flu season can extend as late as May.

“Individuals who are at increased risk for influenza such as immune impaired, the elderly, and individuals with diabetes, heart disease or other chronic medical illnesses should go ahead and get a flu shot now even though it's late in the season,” he said.

Influenza vaccines are not fully effective in preventing the flu. Last year's vaccine prevented influenza in 41 percent of those vaccinated.

But even if they don't prevent influenza entirely, the vaccine does decrease the severity of illness, speed recovery and prevent hospitalization and death in those who are vaccinated.

No child deaths have been reported thus far.

Indiana’s influenza dashboard is updated every Monday.