STATE OF HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARED IN NY - FLU OUTBREAK
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 5:42 am
BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WETM-18) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the flu is so widespread; it is now a State public health emergency—and he wants everyone to get flu shots.
A Physician’s Assistant in Chemung County says many Twin Tiers healthcare providers have stopped testing for the flu, because most people here with the symptoms have the illness.
"This is one of the worst flu seasons we've seen in the last five years," said Jenilee Foster of Five Star Urgent Care.
At her clinic’s location in Big Flats, they've seen a 20 percent increase in January of people coming in with the flu. It's so bad that Cuomo signed an executive order allowing pharmacies to give flu shots to anyone older than six months. They used to be limited to people over 18. Cuomo is urging everyone to get one.
"Is it bulletproof 100 percent? No, not a lot of immunizations are,” Foster said. “But it does help prevent the severity of the symptoms."
They're about 62 percent effective, but still the best way to stay healthy. Your shot will take up to two weeks to take full effect. But how safe are those flu shots? The CDC says very safe, with the worst being mild side effects. Some people are still worried.
"You kind of outweigh the percentage on what's better: to get the shot and immunize yourself, or don't and get the flu for ten days and potentially end up hospitalized," said Foster.
Concerns or not, many people are now planning to get a flu shot. Governor Cuomo hopes it’s not too late to make a difference.
Doctors say medications such as Tamiflu can help if you do catch the flu. But they need to be taken very early on to be effective, usually within the first day.
-18WETM-
