For all my friends in Minnesota who are dealing with a horrible, widespread flu outbreak, I will pass on some info I confirmed today with Chilles CDC flu doctor because we are planning for the Holidays and Chille wants to visit relatives and so I inquired: 1) Yes, the MN state health department is considering closing schools in two districts due to over 5% of the student body reporting flu absences. 2) The strain is a H3N2 strain. H3N2 IS in this years shot but it is a different variation (or mutation) The H3N2 mutation has the Switzerland proteins and the shot has the California proteins, but you will still have a 60% chance of being covered completely and you STILL can have less severe symptoms due to the shot. 3) There is a Tamiflu shortage in Minnesota confirmed. 4) A few years ago, when 281 kids died of the flu and all pediatric deaths counted since then, including the deaths so far this past week, 90% of the children who had died of the flu had NOT received a flu shot and 40% of them had NO underlying illness whatsoever. What does that mean? For you people who say that they dont believe in flu shots or who think their children are healthy so they dont need it - your best protection from becoming a statistic is to get a flu shot. 5) Since this is going to be the worst flu season in over a decade and Tamiflu is already running low (NYC isnt going to peak until January 10 but 10 states, including MN, are past epidemic thresholds already) your BEST defense against the flu is getting a flu shot. The best way you can STOP this epidemic is by getting a shot and staying home when you are sick. And if you are STILL on the fence, then please, for Chilles sake, get a shot to help save HIS life.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 19:14:40 +0000
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