Shot in the arm Department of Health encourages flu shot as season gets underway
Associated Press
Associated PressThe annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, with few exceptions.
As flu season gets underway, the state’s top health officials are encouraging Pennsylvanians to get their annual flu shot to protect against the virus – and the sore throat, runny nose, cough, muscle aches and fatigue that accompany it.
The flu vaccine not only protects you, it also protects others like the elderly, infants, and the immunocompromised, said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen.
“Not only are we protecting ourselves, we’re protecting our friends and family and neighbors because people who are vaccinated are less likely to pass the infection to others, especially people who are at an increased risk of severe outcomes due to respiratory illnesses,” Bogen said.
During last year’s flu season, the state Department of Health recorded more than 234,000 confirmed cases of the flu, resulting in 1,049 deaths. Additionally, across the United States, there were 24,000 deaths, and about 280 children died from influenza during the 2024-25 flu season, half of whom did not have an underlying medical condition, according to the DOH.
“Some people confuse a cold with the flu,” said Dr. Donald E. Conrad, a Penn Highlands family medicine physician and Penn Highlands QCare Medical Director. “Flu symptoms tend to develop quickly after a person is exposed to the virus and are typically more severe than the congestion, runny nose and sneezing associated with most colds.”
There is a lot of reliable information available, said Bogen, and she urges people to talk to their health care providers, who can provide information that’s targeted specifically to them.
The flu vaccine cuts a person’s risk of getting the flu by 40% to 60% and, if a person does end up with the flu, their symptoms probably won’t be as severe.
Getting the flu vaccine is one of the best and simplest ways to reduce your risk of getting the flu and spreading it to others.
Health officials say the flu shot helps decrease the severity of the disease, reduce the risk of hospitalization, and reduce any missed school and work days.
The health department recommends that Pennsylvanians follow the most recent immunization recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
The annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, with few exceptions. The vaccine is updated annually to protect against current virus variants.
There are also other ways to stay healthy, in addition to getting the vaccine.
Washing hands, getting enough sleep, eating well, and coughing into your arm are all important, according to the DOH.
Said Conrad, “People can spread the flu virus before they are sick – up to 24 hours before symptoms even present.”
Most insurance plans cover the flu vaccine at no cost, but uninsured or underinsured people can get a flu shot through local state health centers and federally qualified health centers. For children, the flu vaccine is available at no cost through the Vaccines for Children Program.