(Spirit Lake)– The upcoming cold and flu season could be a bad one. Katy Carey, Lakes Regional Healthcare Director of Population and Public Health, says it appears three different respiratory viruses will be making the rounds again this season…
“Respiratory season is hitting us hard and fast and this year we’re looking at those three, the big three of flu, covid and RSV. So anything you can do to prevent illness whether it be one or three of those it can help your outcome for the fall.”
When it comes to flu, Carey says they’re expecting two different strains to be prevalent this season…
“The formula this year, we have the trivalent flu so it has two influenza A and influenza B so that’s what we’ll be preparing for and for those that are older than 65 we would recommend the high dose to just give your body some extra resistance there and have a longer antibody response throughout the fall. And then we do have the new covid formulation and so that’s for the ’24-’25 season. So you can come into our office and get both the flu and covid shot at the same time and then they’re also available at local pharmacies. If you are older than 60 and you didn’t get a chance to get the RSV vaccine last year, that’s something else that you can reach out to your pharmacies about for protection in that area, too.”
And Carey says it isn’t too early to get those vaccines…
“Anecdotally we know that colds and flus are out and about. We don’t see hospitalizations yet, which is a good thing, but we know stories of many people with the sniffles, so it’s starting.“
Vaccines are available at area pharmacies. In addition, Dickinson County Public Health is offering immunization clinics every Tuesday from 9:00 am until 11:30 am and 1:00 pm until 5:30 pm and Wednesdays from 9:00 am until 11:30 am and 2:00 pm until 5:30 pm. Appointments are necessary and may be made by calling Dickinson County Public Health at 339-6050. Information on the cost is also available by calling that number.
