Los Angeles County has confirmed its first flu-related death of the season, emphasizing the importance of vaccination as the holiday season approaches. The deceased was an older adult with underlying health conditions and had not received the flu vaccine this year. Public health officials are urging all eligible residents to get vaccinated against influenza to protect themselves and their communities.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health noted that the individual had been unvaccinated this flu season. In a statement, L.A. County health officer Muntu Davis remarked, “This tragic death reminds us how serious influenza can be. The best protection this season is getting an updated flu vaccine. Protecting yourself also helps keep your community safer.”
Health officials recommend that everyone over the age of six months should receive an updated flu shot, ideally before holiday gatherings become more frequent. Specific populations, including those under five years old, individuals over 65, and pregnant women, are particularly vulnerable to severe complications from the flu virus, according to guidelines from both L.A. County and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Flu vaccines typically require about two weeks to become fully effective, making timely vaccination crucial as flu activity is expected to increase during the holiday season when travel and indoor gatherings rise.
As the flu season unfolds, public health experts are closely monitoring trends from the Southern Hemisphere, which often predicts the severity of flu seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. Reports indicate that parts of the United Kingdom are currently experiencing significant flu activity, which may herald similar trends in the U.S.
Research suggests that this season’s dominant strain may pose additional challenges. The emergence of a new variant of the H3N2 virus has raised concerns among epidemiologists regarding its potential impact. A researcher from Johns Hopkins stated that this strain could evade some of the protections afforded by previous vaccinations.
Despite this, data from the U.K. indicates that the vaccines still offer substantial protection, with effectiveness rates of approximately 70% to 75% against hospitalization in children and around 30% to 40% in adults. Experts advise individuals to receive their vaccinations promptly, as flu activity is expected to rise through the peak holiday season.
The flu typically results in the deaths of between 12,000 and 52,000 people in the U.S. each winter. Health officials are increasingly concerned that vaccination rates for both influenza and COVID-19 may decline this year due to misinformation regarding vaccine safety and efficacy.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services stated, “It is too early to know what viruses will spread this season and how well the vaccine will work in the United States.” They emphasized that vaccination decisions should be made in consultation with healthcare providers.
In light of this first flu death in Los Angeles County and the expected increase in flu cases, public health officials stress the urgency of vaccination. Protecting oneself through vaccination not only benefits individual health but also contributes to community safety as the holiday season approaches.
