CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WVEC) — Health experts are urging people to get their annual flu shot as part of “National Influenza Vaccination Week.”
13NewsNow spoke with Lisa Engele, Epidemiologist for the Chesapeake Health Department. Engele said there is a big difference between the cold and the flu.
“With the cold virus, you may get a runny nose, headache, you may not feel good,” said Engele. “With the flu, you get a fever, a cough, a fever and a sore throat you feel really bad.”
The flu is obviously, much more serious than a common cold, making the flu vaccine incredibly important, according to medical professionals.
“That is the main reason why we push the flu vaccine in elderly people or people who are immune compromised in any way,” said Engele. “We don't want them to end up in the hospital and or die from the flu and the flu vaccine will protect them from that.”
The Virginia Department of Health says Virginia was at the “no activity” level during the week ending on November 24, with the state having spent 0 weeks at Widespread.
“After this week it will start to creep up and our high-level activity usually, and if its projected like last year, like the end of December, middle week of December, the next couple of weeks is what I’m trying to tell you, we'll start seeing widespread activity.”
The Virginia Beach Health Department is offering free flu shots on Wednesday, December 5 from 4-7 p.m. at 4452 Corporation Lane.
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