We got our flu shot a few weeks ago, and Morgan Matzen's story in the Argus Leader, South Dakota reports its first influenza death of the 2021-2022 season, makes us happy we did:
The South Dakota Department of Health has reported the first influenza death in the state of the 2021-2022 flu season, which is Oct. 2021 through May 2022.
Flu activity in communities across the state is classified as local, said Dr. Joshua Clayton, the state epidemiologist. In addition to the death, the DOH has reported 89 lab-confirmed flu cases and four flu-related hospitalizations in the past week.
“Our sympathy is with the family. Their loss serves as a reminder to us all that influenza can be a very serious illness,” Clayton said in a statement. “It is not too late to get vaccinated for this flu season, and if you haven’t yet received your annual flu vaccination, the time to do so is now.”
Each year, an average of 39 South Dakotan deaths are reported to the DOH. To protect against flu complications, annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older. . . .
Read the rest at the Argus Leader.
With past flu shots, we had no side effects. This year was different, as Slipperpaws decided that she had to curl up by the arm in which we received the shot and make biscuits on the injection site. While the purring was pleasant, the arm was sore the next day.
Nonetheless, we hope readers get a flu shot.
Graphic: Flu season.
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