Flu hits Salt Lake early this year
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Salt Lake County health officials are warning residents not to put off their flu shots as the winter illness season gets off to an unusually early start this year.
Why it matters: It takes patients "up to two weeks to build the immunity triggered by the vaccine," county health department director Dorothy Adams said in a statement.
- That means this year's early rise in cases could pre-empt shots already.
Context: Utahns normally are advised to get their shots anytime before Halloween.
By the numbers: Intermountain Health tallied 181 positive tests for Influenza A at its clinics and hospitals during the first week of October; in the five previous years, counts the same week ranged from 2 to 46 cases.
- Statewide, influenza accounted for 0.49% of ER visits that week, more than double the rate of the same week during any year since 2019, state data show. In Salt Lake County, that figure was even higher.
Zoom out: About 3.6% of flu tests nationally came back positive in early October, compared with just 0.6% at the same point last year, according to CDC data.
- Outpatient reports also suggest flu activity is on the rise.
The intrigue: This season, the new U.S.-approved mRNA flu vaccine is available to adults 50 and older.
- The move comes as the Trump administration has reshaped federal vaccine policy and put greater emphasis on vaccine safety and injury reporting.
- Yes, but: Serious reactions caused by vaccines are rare, and a health problem reported after vaccination does not necessarily mean the vaccine caused it, CDC has said.
How it works: If you can't get the shot at your doctor's office or pharmacy, the county offers immunization clinics.