Health officials urge flu shots despite lower effectiveness

Dec. 19--This year's flu vaccine is not 100 percent effective against the flu, but local health professionals are still encouraging residents to get vaccinated.

Having the flu for a few days, they say, is better than having the flu for a week.

"Patients are still getting partial immunity and that's better than no immunity," said Dr. Robert Rich, local medical director of Community Care of North Carolina.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed earlier this month that vaccinated patients will not be immune to some variants of influenza A that are circulating this year.

Five people in North Carolina have died from influenza since Oct. 4, the official start of the flu season. At this time last year, there had been nine flu-related deaths.

Rich said he doesn't believe the CDC's statement has affected the number of people who have gotten vaccinated.

The flu vaccination movement is certainly gaining steam. New Hanover County made vaccines available to all middle school and high school students. For years, New Hanover Regional Medical Center has required its employees to get vaccinated.

Carla Turner, New Hanover County personal health services manager, said the county health department no longer has the private vaccine for those with insurance. Public vaccine, however, is still available at the health department. Private vaccines are still widely available at area pharmacies and through family providers.

Turner said she personally knows of individuals who were diagnosed with the flu after getting vaccinated. But their illness lasted just two or three days, she said, instead of seven to 10.

"I strongly encourage people to get vaccinated because it's providing a level of immunity they wouldn't have otherwise," she said.

Mike Voorheis: 910-343-2205

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