The Pennsylvania Health Secretary is recommending people get vaccinated against the flu for the holidays.
Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen and Secretary of the state department of Aging Jason Kavulich both recommend getting the shot now as it takes about two weeks to build protective antibodies against flu and other respiratory viruses in time for holiday parties and gatherings. Health care providers are also recommending that state residents six months and older get vaccinated.
The Department of Health has recorded 7,125 laboratory-confirmed cases pf flu since September when the respiratory virus season started. There have also been 239 adult hospital admissions, and 87 pediatric hospital admissions related to the flu. This is on par with the number of cases at this point in the past two flu seasons. For RSV, there have been 1,663 lab-confirmed cases in Pennsylvania.
For Indiana County so far, Indiana County has only 33 reported flu cases and no RSV cases.
As far as Covid-19 goes, the percent of emergency room visits for Covid-19 remains low statewide, but the department warns that activity continues to increase.
