LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– May is halfway over and the flu is still around.
Health experts are still seeing new flu cases coming in. And that’s unsual this late in the season.
Believe it or not, the health department still has new flu cases every week. Normally, they would be advising people to go get the flu shot. But this late in the game, they’re saying don’t do that.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says the city is seeing about three new flu cases per week. That’s nothing compared to the peak of the season when they were seeing about 70 to 100 cases per week. But health experts say it’s unusual to see the flu this close to June.
Kentucky is actually one of four states still in regional flu activity. The only states worse than that are Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. But if you’re thinking about getting a flu shot for protection now, health experts say that’s not a good idea. This year’s flu shot will not protect you for the new upcoming flu season.
"We don’t want people thinking ‘Oh, I got the flu shot in late May," said Kevin Hall. "I don’t need to get it in October or November’ – which is simply not going to be the case. There’s going to be a new flu strain and a new flu shot to protect against different strains."
And when that new flu vaccine comes out for the next flu season, experts say that is when you can go and get your flu shot again.
